10 Must have items for Guided Reading group work.

Phones - mobile phones and telephones and pretend-phones

I always ask the parents at the beginning of the year to donate their old phones to my classroom.  I use these in my reading area and if I am getting ready to start and need 5 minutes I will simply ask the group to read their story down the phone.  The pupils select their phone and read their reading books quietly.  

Funny Glasses (bought in the pound shop in a variety of colours)

I use these when we are trying to work out a tricky word.  These glasses are of course magic and the children know that we only use these on special occasions.  I usually say, "Let's look at this tricky word (and then say the word - giving away the information.)  We then take turns to put on the glasses and read the word.  This works exceedingly as the children are keen to try on the glasses and learn the word.  

A box of pieces of card - variety of sizes - index card/ sentence strips 
​I hand these out for the children to write certain words or to draw a quick picture. 

Whiteboards and markers and sponges
For the same reason as my little box of card.  Sometime we look at one word and play scrambled egg.  I cut up the word and then scramble up the letters.  The pupils then put these back together in the correct order and write it down on their whiteboard.  I sometime use the markers to write directly onto the table.  Kids love this as they know that we shouldn't write on the furniture.  

Baby Wipes
I keep a packet of baby wipes and we use these to write on the desk too! Yes we use the baby wipes to write words on the table.  Good tip to do at the end of the lesson - keeps your reading area clean.   

Pound shop / Ikea lights
When you sound out CVC words press each light.  c. a. t.  That gives a clear visual - particularly good for the children who are struggling.  

Magnetic letters and a baking tray
​To make words that we find in the reading book.  Promotes children to spell.

If you want to be mega organised you can use a tool box and put each letter in order.  Great for alphabetical order.  I plan to do this in term 3.

Bingo Dabbers 
Great for finding letters or dabbing over the punctuation marks.
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Highlighters
​For the same reasons as above and also to highlight keywords.  

Novelty pointers - can be handmade or use a lolly-pop stick or a magnifying glass
These just make it fun.  Hand out the little pointer or the magnifying glass and ask a child to find a certain word with it.  

Let me know what you use in your guided reading groups in the comments below.