Small Group Instruction Series Part 2: Pre-Reader Lesson Plan

The small group series continues! In the last blog post, we covered assessment options and grouping. Now, let’s jump into planning a pre-reader lesson plan. Over the next several blog posts, I’ll share one lesson plan for each phase of reading, tailored to fictional students.

Remember, these are lessons to inspire you—it’s crucial to plan based on your students’ unique needs. This is why I never recommend purchasing plans that are already created. 😉

A Fresh Look at Small Group Instruction

For years, guided reading has been the go-to approach for small groups. While it’s a familiar method, guided reading often includes practices that research has shown to be ineffective—like grouping students solely by reading levels and relying on strategies such as 3-cueing. Let me teach you a better way!

First, watch the planning video to see how I plan this mock lesson in under 3 minutes!

Small Group Planning Bundle

Let’s Get Planning

Group 1 (Pre-reader): These “kindergartners” have minimal alphabet knowledge and lack phonemic awareness. They know less than 10 letter names (upper & lower) and do not know any letter sounds.

Warm-Up:
Always start with a warm-up to settle your students in at the small group table and ensure the rest of the class is engaged in centers. For this group, I chose to focus on name writing. Teach students to say the letter names while they build, trace, and copy their names. This activity is highly motivating because names are important! Focus on proper letter formation and work on pencil grip.

This is perfect for small group time because you can support each student individually. You can prep little baskets with their letter magnets ahead of time for each group. This is a good morning activity for the whole class as well!

Activity: Build, Trace, Copy
Supplies: Letter Tiles or Letter Magnets, Dry Erase Pockets, Name Template

Phonemic Awareness:
Never skip this for pre-readers! Connect it to the phonics you are teaching. If you are focusing on letter Ss, do an activity with this sound. This can be done with or without manipulatives. Picture cards can be helpful if you are working with language learners.

Activity: Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down (Do you hear /s/ at the beginning?) You’ll want to prep the list of words you will say ahead of time. If the group is struggling to hear the sound, try bouncing it! (sun, /s/ /s/, sun. I hear /s/ at the beginning, so I will put my thumbs up! 👍 cat, /k/ /k/, cat. I hear /k/ at the beginning, so I will put my thumbs down. That is not the same sound as /s/. 👎)

Review Sounds & Spellings:
Use the alphabet song to connect to prior knowledge. Most children come to school knowing the song. I like to teach the NEW Alphabet Song because it breaks up “elemenop” (Some kids really think that’s a letter! Kids are very literal. Leave no room for interpretation.). You can listen to me sing it HERE. Ensure letter recognition by pointing to letters while singing. Pointing is a MUST! This can become the job of someone in the group once the routine is solid.

Activity: Alphabet Song
Supplies: Alphabet Arc or Letter Poster (You can rotate through upper case only, lower case only, and then both.)

Blending & Segmenting:
This group isn’t ready to read or spell words…yet! You can do this orally once they know enough letter sounds. Add these two skills into your plans for Days 2-4. Use sound boxes and tokens until they are ready to add in letters.

Alphabet & Handwriting
Focus on one letter the entire group needs. Teach its name, upper & lower case shape, sound, articulation, voicing and a target word. If you are unsure how to teach this routine, Rainbow Phonics has free slides that follow this structure.

Use whisper phones to practice the sound, then shape the letter with modeling clay and write the letter while saying the sound. Focus on proper letter formation and work on grip.

If students are not ready to write the letter, you can use a sand tray to work on letter formation.

Activity: Learn Letter
Supplies: Letter Card, Tracing Template in Dry Erase Pockets, Skinny Dry Erase Markers, Modeling Clay, Whisper Phones, Little Mirrors

Pre-Reader Book:
Use a pre-reader book to work on oral language, building vocabulary, and background knowledge. These books also introduce 8 basic letter sounds per book. The book I used in the video is from Beanstalk Books.

Phase 1: Non-fiction: Use Code JESSICA30 for 30% off your order! Commissions earned.

You might not have time for this on Day 1 and that’s okay! Kindergarten students might only be able to sit for 5-10 minutes MAX at the beginning of the school year and your other students will likely need a break from centers as well.

By the way, centers will be very simple activities like building with blocks, coloring, and doing puzzles at the very beginning of the year. Know what your group can handle and don’t push it. Their stamina will build as you go.

Need a better way to plan?

Grab my Small Group Planning Bundle to make planning small groups a breeze!

This BUNDLE contains everything you need to plan effective small groups aligned to the science of reading!

Resources Included:

1. Small Group Digital Lesson Plans (See HERE)

2. 10 Small Group Activities (See HERE)

3. Handwriting Practice & Formation Mini Posters (See HERE)

Replace your traditional guided reading plans with skills-based lessons in order to reach every reader in your classroom. If you are learning about the science of reading and structured literacy, these resources are perfect for you to get your small groups started!

Final Thoughts!

That’s it! It may seem like a lot, but you’ll get efficient at planning these types of lessons. If you have any questions, comment below and let me know. Watch for the next blog post coming soon, all about early readers in the partial alphabetic phase. 😍