Guided reading is designed primarily for what type of instruction?

Guided reading is primarily designed for small group differentiated teaching, which focuses on meeting the diverse needs of students in a more personalized manner. This instructional approach allows educators to work with small groups of students who share similar reading levels or challenges.

During guided reading sessions, teachers can tailor their instruction to target specific skills, strategies, and content that align with each group's reading abilities. This allows for more effective and focused support, facilitating guided discussion and active engagement with texts. In contrast to whole class lectures, which are more generalized and less interactive, guided reading fosters a collaborative learning environment where students can practice reading skills in a supportive setting.

Moreover, while independent reading assignments encourage students to read on their own, they do not provide the same level of direct, differentiated instruction that guided reading offers. Similarly, though standard test preparations can be beneficial, they often do not address the individual instructional needs as effectively as small group guided reading does. Thus, guided reading stands out as an essential practice for differentiated teaching aimed at building students' reading proficiency in a focused and supportive manner.