What characterizes a guided reading lesson aligned with Standard 1?

• A. A full-class lecture with no guided practice.
• B. Independent silent reading with no prompts.
• C. A small-group session focused on a target level-appropriate text with explicit focus on decoding strategies and comprehension questions; teacher supports, then students read independently.
• D. Rapid-fire spelling drills.

Answer: (C)

Guided reading aligned with this standard emphasizes intentional, differentiated instruction in a small-group setting. The teacher selects a text that matches the group's instructional level, giving students a manageable challenge. Explicit instruction then models decoding strategies and guides students through targeted comprehension questions, using prompts and supports to scaffold meaning-making. After that guided support, students read the text independently, applying the strategies they've just practiced with the teacher nearby to monitor meaning and fluency. This structure—targeted, level-appropriate text; explicit strategy instruction with scaffolded prompts; and a gradual release to independent reading—is what makes this approach fit the standard. The other scenarios lack this combination: a full-class lecture misses the guided practice, silent reading with no prompts misses the explicit strategy instruction, and quick spelling drills focus on word parts rather than the integrated decoding and comprehension work essential in guided reading.