If guided reading feels overwhelming, you’re not alone! Between different reading levels, small group management, and trying to plan meaningful activities, it can be a lot. You want your students to grow their reading skills, but prepping for every book and every group can quickly eat up your planning time.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way! With the right tools and routines, guided reading can become one of the most effective and enjoyable parts of your day for both you and your students!
Here are a few simple ways to make guided reading time easier to manage and more impactful for your learners:
1. Use activities that work with ANY book
One of the biggest time-savers is using flexible resources that can be used with whatever books you already have. That’s why I created the Guided Reading Activities for Any Book – Reading Blocks MEGA BUNDLE. It includes printable and digital reading activities that can be used with fiction or nonfiction books at any level. No more hunting for leveled worksheets or scrambling to find matching resources — just grab a book and go!
2. Keep your small group time structured and consistent
Our kiddos thrive on routines. When they know what to expect during small groups, they can focus better and grow more confident. The Reading Blocks system helps establish a clear structure for guided reading time. You can rotate through vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and more — all using the same easy-to-follow format. Once students get the hang of it, things run so much smoother.
3. Target multiple reading skills in guided reading without extra planning
With over 150 pages of reading activities, this bundle covers everything from making predictions to retelling, summarizing, comparing texts, vocabulary building, and more. Plus, many of the activities are open-ended, so you can use them again and again with different books. It’s perfect for differentiation and easy to adapt for your students’ needs.
Ready to make your guided reading time stress-free?
My Reading Blocks Bundle is your all-in-one solution for guided reading in kindergarten through second grade! Whether you’re working with beginning readers or more advanced students, this resource helps you make the most of your small group time, without hours of prep! Just choose a book, print (or pull up the digital version), and teach!
👉 Grab the Guided Reading Activities for Any Book – Reading Blocks Bundle here!
For more reading activity ideas, check out my post here!
