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Kindergarten Independent and Guided Reading Activities

19 kindergarten independent and guided reading activities. Teacher favorites: Finger Spaces Sorting Activity and Retelling Stories Activity. How teachers use these

Kindergarten Independent and Guided Reading Activities

19 kindergarten independent and guided reading activities. Teacher favorites: Finger Spaces Sorting Activity and Retelling Stories Activity. How teachers use these

Activity
ActivityKindergartenFinger Spaces Sorting Activity

This finger spaces sorting activity helps preschool to 1st grade children see that words in a sentence are separated by spaces. Answer key included for quick checking.

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ActivityKindergartenRetelling Stories Activity

This retelling stories activity has Kindergarten to 2nd Grade students order picture and sentence cards, then retell a pool-day story. Answer key included to check every card.

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ActivityKindergartenComparing Books Activity

In this comparing books activity, K-1st grade students read two pumpkin picture books and use 12 detective cards to tell what is the same and different. Answer key included.

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ActivityKindergartenRetelling Using Key Details Activity

This retelling using key details activity helps kindergarten to 3rd grade students sort key events, put them in order, and retell a story, with an answer key included.

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ActivityKindergartenI Like Colors Flip Book Activity

Using I Like Colors Flip Book Activity, students read the emergent reader with purpose and understanding to improve fluency and accuracy.

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ActivityKindergartenComparing Texts Compare and Contrast Activity

Using Comparing Texts Compare and Contrast Activity, students compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic.

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ActivityKindergartenLet's Read Emergent Readers Activity

This Let's Read emergent readers activity is a cut-and-tape mini book for PreK to 1st grade that builds sight word fluency. Answer key included for the practice page.

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ActivityKindergartenKey Details in a Text Activity

This key details in a text activity helps K-2nd grade readers answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions with self-checking story cards. Answer key included.

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ActivityKindergartenAfter Reading Discussion Cards Activity

These after reading discussion cards give kindergarten to 3rd grade readers 24 story questions, a spinner and a book talk page for lively group conversations about any book.

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ActivityKindergartenKey Details for Comprehension Activity

Use this key details for comprehension activity with Kindergarten to 3rd grade readers to find characters, setting, problem and solution in a story. Answer key included, so checking work is quick.

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ActivityKindergartenGold Medal Reading Strategies Activity

Using Gold Medal Reading Strategies Activity, students read grade-level text with purpose and understanding using graphic organizers for support.

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ActivityKindergartenFun With Poetry Activity

Using Fun With Poetry Activity, students read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for grade 1. to build reading comprehension skills.

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ActivityKindergartenAsking Questions about a Story Activity

Using Asking Questions about a Story Activity, students Discuss a topic or read a book aloud using Question Cards to help guide questions andanswers about the topic.

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ActivityKindergartenKey Details Story Elements Text Activity

Use this key details story elements text activity with kindergarten and 1st grade readers. Children hear a treasure story and match question cards to answer cards; an answer key is included.

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ActivityKindergartenQuestion Cards for Reading Activity

Using Asking Questions about a Story Activity, students Discuss a topic or read a book aloud using Question Cards to help guide questions andanswers about the topic.

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ActivityKindergartenHow are They the Same Compare and Contrast Story Elements Activity

Using How are They the Same Compare and Contrast Story Elements Activity, students compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters.

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ActivityKindergartenRetell the Story Activity

Using Retell the Story Activity,students read “Floppy Ears” aloud to students and then use the question chart to assess students ability to retell the story.

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ActivityKindergartenStory Elements Organizing What You Read Activity

Using Story Elements Organizing What You Read Activity, students use activity worksheets and graphic organizers to describe the characters, setting and events.

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ActivityKindergartenRL.K.1 Common Core Activity

Using this RL.K.1 Common Core Activity, students answer questions aboutkey details in a text.

From our teachers' playbook

First books, first big wins!

What do kindergartners learn in guided and independent reading?

Kindergarten reading starts with how books work. Kids learn to hold a book the right way, read from left to right and top to bottom, and notice the spaces between words. In small guided reading groups, they point to each word as they read simple patterned books like "I like the dog. I like the cat." They learn high-frequency words, retell a story using key details, and ask and answer questions about it. The click comes when a child reads their first little book all the way through and wants to read it again!

Our favorite ways to grow kindergarten readers

Little readers need lots of support and lots of practice. These moves give them both.

Point and read

Read a big book and slide your finger under each word, left to right. Then hand the pointer to a student. One finger, one word helps kids match what they say to what they see.

Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).

I Can Read From Left to Right WorksheetTry it withI Can Read From Left to Right WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

Retell with props

After a story, give kids a few props or picture cards and let them act out the beginning, middle and end. Retelling with their hands helps them remember the key details in order.

Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.

Retelling Using Key Details ActivityTry it withRetelling Using Key Details ActivityActivitiesOpen it →

A few words every day

Practice three or four high-frequency words each day, mixing new ones with old ones. Kids read them on cards, then find them in their books. Little daily reviews build a big word bank.

Why it works: short practice spread over several days beats one long session, according to a large review of learning research (Dunlosky and colleagues, 2013).

Reading High Frequency Words WorksheetTry it withReading High Frequency Words WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is guided reading in kindergarten?

Guided reading is when a teacher meets with a small group of kids to read a book together. The teacher coaches each child to point to words, use pictures and sound out simple words.

When should kindergartners start reading on their own?

Many kindergartners start reading simple patterned books by themselves in the middle of the year. Every child is different, and steady progress matters more than a date.

What are concepts of print?

Concepts of print are the basics of how books work: holding a book right side up, reading left to right, knowing where a word starts and ends, and knowing the difference between letters and words.

How can I help my kindergartner read at home?

Read together every day and let your child point to the words. Ask them to find a word they know on each page, and talk about the story when you finish.