What is a primary focus of guided reading sessions?

In guided reading sessions, the primary focus is on implementing mixed strategies that engage students in the process of reading, which includes reading aloud and following along in a text. This approach allows the teacher to provide targeted support, help students develop their reading proficiencies, and foster comprehension skills. During these sessions, students read texts at their instructional level, which helps to enhance their reading fluency and confidence while the teacher can monitor their progress and provide immediate feedback based on their understanding and needs. The incorporation of reading aloud enables students to hear fluent reading and understand the prosody and articulation of words, while following along develops their word recognition and comprehension skills.

Options that suggest only large groups, strictly independent practices, or solely post-reading discussions do not reflect the interactive and supportive nature of guided reading, where individualized instruction and immediate feedback are key components of the learning process.