"As students gain confidence and skills in guided reading, what is the next step to helping them become strong, independent readers? Small-group reading sessions. By working in small groups, students will be able to explore longer text and build their literacy skills with confidence. Literacy expert Gail Saunders-Smith demonstrates through the methods in this book how educators can advance students from small-group reading to silent reading, all while building reading comprehension. Ideal for teachers of emergent readers, The Ultimate Small-Group Reading How-To Book demonstrates how to develop successful readers through step-by-step, small-group reading instruction that focuses on vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Inside are tools for teachers to help them: Set up small-group mini-lessons and discussion of texts Provide tools for students to help investigate narrative texts Engage students to evaluate expository texts Develop students' skills in defining literary elements such as characters, setting, and plot And much more Help students become independent readers with these strategies for use before, during, and after guided reading!"--