GRAIR Guidance 2016

Guiding Reading Accountable Independent Reading (GRAIR) Guidance Learning Stations at GRADES 3-6

“Guided Reading and Accountable Independent Reading (GRAIR) is additional literacy time within the school day where teachers can work with students in developmentally appropriate groupings to meet their individual needs. This is an opportunity for the favorite traditional read aloud work, literacy based centers, and immersion in text, where teachers can facilitate student choice from existing leveled libraries based on interest, availability, and readability. The purpose of this time is to build independent, interested, and capable readers.” (EngageNY.com)

There are many different possibilities regarding how to utilize the ELA Block. 45-60 minutes must be devoted to implementing teacher-adapted module units and lessons, leaving one hour of instruction that should be facilitated through a learning station format. That time might be dedicated to any of the following:

 Guided Reading  Fluency  Independent Reading  Writing Skill lessons  Writer’s Workshop  Word work/Phonics Skills  Grammar/Vocabulary Skill lessons

Students can be placed on a rotation of learning stations based on reading and/or writing levels. The teacher should not be part of the rotation to allow for flexibility in meeting with groups to provide targeted instruction to struggling and reluctant learners while also leaving time for conferencing with students regarding progress on reading and writing. The diagram below represents one variation of GRAIR. Please know that GRAIR presents one with flexibility as to how teachers provide independent work and targeted intervention on the specific skills of reading and writing that students need in order to become successful readers and writers.

GRAIR Guidance 2016 A/C Day B/D Day

Teacher-Adapted CC Module unit and lessons* Teacher-Adapted CC Module unit and lessons* 45-60 minutes 45-60 minutes

GRAIR – Learning Stations GRAIR – Learning Stations 60 minutes 60 minutes

Learning Station Topics: Learning Station Topics: o Fluency o Writing and the Writing Process o Comprehension Review o Grammar o Independent Reading o Vocabulary o Vocabulary o Phonics/Word Work o Listening o Arts & Descriptive Writing o Compass Please note that learning stations based on writing should extend and lend support to a teacher-facilitated writers’ workshop mini-lesson.

Teacher Centered Station: Teacher Centered Station: o Running Records o Writing Conferences o Conferencing o Writing Skills Lesson o Targeted Intervention

o Comprehension o Guided Reading, including activities like response journals, book talks, questions, and author studies

*based on Wiggins and McTigue’s Understanding By Design

GRAIR Guidance 2016 EXAMPLE CENTERS for ONE DAY:

LEARNING STATION 1

TOPIC: WRITING & THE WRITING PROCESS TEACHER CENTER LEARNING STATION 2

TOPIC: GRAMMAR Group Meetings at the Teacher Station can be approximately 20 minutes in length. These flexible meetings are not part of the learning stations rotation, but instead are more flexible to allow for teachers to target instruction with specific students and to provide much- LEARNING STATION 3 needed conferences with students to discuss individual progress with reading TOPIC: ARTS & and writing. DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

LEARNING STATION 4

TOPIC: PHONICS /WORD WORK LEARNING STATION 5

TOPIC: VOCABULARY