Our Service
Initial Reading Assessment
Prior to enrollment, students will meet with a teacher for a 30-45 minute, complimentary, private reading assessment. During this initial session, specific reading strengths and weakness will be identified and the student’s instructional reading level will be determined. Teachers will also provide parents with a list of recommended books at their child’s independent reading level.
Leveled Group Placement
Students are assessed using the CORE Phonics Survey and Literacy Footprints Guided Reading Assessment. After enrollment, students will be placed into a group with 1-3 other children at his or her instructional level who also exhibit similar reading patterns. Students’ reading progress is continuously assessed and monitored. To ensure that students are receiving instruction at their targeted reading level, group placements are subject to change.
Depending on a child’s reading level, they may be placed on a wait list until more students at their instructional reading level enroll. *We are currently enrollingK-3rd grade students or students reading at an equivalent reading level.
Our Guided Reading Process
1. Prayer
Each guided reading session will start with a group prayer where students will be able to share prayer intentions and ask for intercessory from our patron, Saint Therese.
2. Word Study
The teacher will explicitly teach a specific spelling pattern or phonics rule. The group will participate in a guided activity to practice the skill and identify words exhibiting these patterns throughout the text.
3. Reading Strategy
The teacher will model the reading strategy focus of the week. Throughout the semester, students will learn a variety of word-attack strategies that can be employed when reading challenging but decodable words. They will also be introduced to helpful techniques that can be used to determine unfamiliar, irregular words while reading.
4. Book Introduction
The teacher will introduce the weekly decodable books or leveled reader and discuss the genre. Students will preview the pictures while making predictions. Students will also be introduced to tricky vocabulary words and provided with the necessary background knowledge to promote comprehension.
5. Reading the Text
Students will silently read while the teacher listens in to one student at a time. During this time, the teacher will take notes, prompt, guide, and provide individual instruction based on student need.
6. Discuss & Teach
After reading, the teacher will guide a group discussion about the text using open-ended questions to promote critical thinking. The teacher will then model a specific comprehension or reading strategy and engage the group in a guided activity to practice this new skill.
7. Guided Writing
Students will extend their understanding of the weekly phonics focus by completing guided writing activities that include spelling practice, games, and word/sentence dictation. On Day 3, older students will extend their understanding of the week's comprehension skill by completing a guided writing assignment. During this time, the teacher will also explicitly teach specific writing skills and provide feedback and instruction based on student need.