Chelsea's Reflection (Ch. 8, On Solid Ground)

Chapter 8: Guided Reading: Demonstrating Strategies in Small-Group Settings is another well informed chapter. Sharon states that "guided reading is a way to help children understand how reading works and learn techniques to figure out words and comprehend texts that are just a little too challenging for them to read without support." I like this strategy for reading. I like that there are small separate groups of children reading the same text that is a little challenging to them. This way the teacher is able to see how the student thinks and what they can comprehend from the text they are reading. The students have support from their teacher while they are reading to help them at that moment with any questions they may have. After reading this chapter, Sharon pointed out a lot of great ideas on what a teacher can do with his/her students through guided reading. I like how she groups her students into groups by early, emergent, transitional, and fluent readers because they all will be on the same level. However, I was thinking how it would work if the students were grouped in a mix so that each student can help each other out and teach each other different strategies in reading. I don't know if that would be too chaotic or get too out of hand. Also, I think for most of the time, the students are supposed to be reading their text quietly to themselves, so I'm not too sure if that idea would work out.
I really enjoy reading all of Sharon's chapters of her book. I think all her strategies are really great ideas and want to try them out one day myself. She does a whole lot with her kids, and I'm trying to see where she fits it all in. Nowadays, teachers have shortage of time throughout the school day and end up rushing through a lot of things. I'm just really hoping that I can get done what I want to accomplish with my kids when I have my own classroom. I know it's not always going to work, but I want my kids to learn and have fun all at the same time.