Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6): Teaching, Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy

by Irene C. Fountas, Gay Su Pinnell

Authors Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell have already helped hundreds of thousands of K-3 teachers engage, inform, and inspire early readers and writers. Now, with Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6) , Fountas and Pinnell support teachers on the next leg of the literacy journey, addressing the unique challenges of teaching upper elementary students. The product of many years of work with classroom teachers, Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6) is one of the most comprehensive, authoritative guides available today. It explores all the essential components of a quality literacy program in six separate

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction, Writing, Reference, School

672 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Etta G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy giving scathing reviews to my grad school textbooks but it’s 10:30pm and I’m honestly just ready to be done with Fountas and Pinnell and with any professor who bases an entire course off of materials written over 20 years ago.

[Teresa Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so helpful. I am definitely buying this book. It literally takes you step by step in creating guided reading, from groups to how to facilitate it. I really love the 20 day steps to creating independent readers. There is also a lot of instructional support you can use when teaching students how to read. My mentor used this book to hash out some writing dilemmas she was having. I didn't look at the writing portion too much so I am not really well versed in the writing but I at least know this book will have loads of information since my mentor loved it so much. For me, the reading portion is what I most focused on. You cannot read this book in one sit down, obviously, but I think it is a great resource to have when referring to something that can answer questions you may have about reading instruction quickly and effectively.

[Labyrinth Rossiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I'd grabbed the latest edition of In the Middle by Nancy Atwell since my copy was destroyed, but this was a decent refresher course in reading/writing workshop. I may end up using its lists of mini-lessons as a sort of checklist, but otherwise, I just needed to get my brain in gear. Currently, my daughter and I are working on Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I suppose it counts primarily as guided reading, at the moment, but my goal is to scaffold her learning so that she and I are reading mostly independently, and we have a sort of little mother/daughter "book club." That would be my goal for all students, really.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

My "bible" for teaching reading when I first started. Very comprehensive, but not a cover-to-cover read. Teaching reading has changed a lot in the past 10 years and there are some great, newer resources out there.

[Anna Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for building a strong guided reading program in the classroom.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing resource for ELA teachers! Finally read the entire thing! Tons of post-it notes and annotations - glad I purchased my own copy.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! It has tons of resources for teachers, it is my go-to book for the past ten years. If you want to go from good to great these strategies can help take you there.

[Tiffany Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably one of the most helpful books I have ever read in the area of teaching ELA. I'm glad I have my own copy so I can revisit my highlights and notes.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely the best book on reading and writing instruction that I have ever come across. It's perfect for what I am teaching this year. It's the ideal book for someone who is looking to maximize Reading Workshop and/or Writing Workshop in their classroom. The book is full of useful, relevant suggestions for teaching and includes so many helpful resources such as graphic organizers, forms (for conferencing), etc. I recommend this to anyone who teaches literacy.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AMAZING. I am reading it so I can understand how to help further my children's reading as well as to understand what teaching reading is in the upper grades. Every time I pick up this book I am inspired. I have to take it back to the library, since my interlibrary loan due date is up, but I love it so much I am going to buy it (to finish it). This is a 500 page book, but it includes nothing dull whatsoever. I LOVE IT.

[C. Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive look at the reading process, connecting reading to writing, and creating a workshop model for your classroom. I highly recommend this for teachers who have not had experience with reading/writing workshop or for teachers who are becoming familiar with language arts curriculums.

[Sha_von · Rating 4 out of 5]

I participated in a book talk club my first year as a para and the literacy coach assigned this book for us to read. I found that it was very helpful for teachers, new and old, and gave great strategies on how to manage a good guided reading group.

[Adelaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foundations of Literacy, summer session 2015. This book is clearly one to know in order to understand the language of literacy instruction at the moment. It was also helpful to read the suggestions of how to layout time in a day, as well as specific suggestions for activities.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful, but excessively and almost pathologically detailed. Contrary to what is suggested in the subtitle, many of the activities, particularly the reading response ones are far too sophisticated for grade three students.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most practical, useful models i've ever found for setting up strong reading workshop structures.

[Sbonsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book as my nuts and bolts guide to setting up both reading and writing workshops.

[Carrie]

At 648 pages this is not a light read, but I do find it part of my constant reference for 5th grade Language Arts. It is a constant on my current reads and references.

[Jen Munnerlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a valuable resource, however it can be an overwhelming text to use. In future PD work and/or study sessions I plan to highlight small pieces of this text.

[Marie]

"Guiding Readers and Writers: Teaching Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy by Irene C. Fountas (2001)"

[Stephanie Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it for a course...

[Charmaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has great ideas for teaching reading. I would recommend it to my teacher friends.

[Bethany Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got it in the mail today and just flipping through it I'm so excited; it's impressive and I'm sure it will be my life saver!

[Marnie Turman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook for one of my graduate classes. It is going to be very useful once I am teaching.

[Bethany Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doesn't get better than this in establishing a fantastic upper el literacy block.

[Ruby Westlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many ideas in this book! I think you would have to keep your students all day (not let them go to P.E., Art etc) in order to get them in. I'm going to make an effort, though.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. This is a must-read for teachers in grades 3-6.

[Caithlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

some good ideas but not super useful for what I needed.

[Louanne Winkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has so much in it and provides a multitude of outstanding ideas for organizing the reading and writing classroom. Big and fat!

[Sarah Satkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best LAL teaching book EVER.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best educational resource books on literacy available!