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Science of Reading Small Group Lessons: A 20-Minute Model for K-2

1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Kindergarten, Literacy, Science of Reading

Written by: Jess Dalrymple

If you’ve been teaching for a while, you’ve probably noticed that small group reading instruction has changed. The old Guided Reading model—where kids read leveled books and used picture clues to figure out words—is no longer considered best practice. Research tells us that small groups should focus on explicit phonics instruction, decoding, fluency, and comprehension while giving kids access to grade-level text with support.

And let’s be honest—this shift can feel tricky. How do we balance skills work and text reading? How do we help kids tackle harder books without frustration? And what does a 20-minute small group lesson actually look like?

I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll walk you through a simple, effective 20-minute Science of Reading small group routine that works for kindergarten, first, and second grade. You’ll get a clear plan you can use tomorrow—without the stress.

What Wasn’t Working with the Old Guided Reading Model

If you’ve ever felt like your kids were stuck at a certain reading level forever, you’re not alone. The leveled book system used in Guided Reading often kept kids in simple texts way too long. Instead of learning to decode and build fluency, kids relied on guessing strategies (look at the picture, think about what makes sense, etc.).

The problem? Stronger readers aren’t strong guessers. They’re strong decoders.

And we now know that small group instruction should focus on helping kids read actual words, not just strategies for getting around them.

What the Science of Reading (SOR) Tells Us

Here’s what the research says a strong small group should include:

Word Recognition Work – Explicit phonics, decoding, fluency
Language Comprehension – Vocabulary, discussion, meaning-making

That means kids need to read and talk about real books, but they also need explicit, structured practice with sounds and words so they can tackle more complex texts with confidence.

So how do we fit it all into small groups? Let’s break it down.

The Science of Reading Small Group Reading Lesson Has 4 Parts

Quick Skills Warm-Up (Phonics and fluency)
Reading Grade-Level Text (Teacher-supported reading)
Making Meaning of the Text (Comprehension)
Responding to the Text (Writing)

This routine keeps things structured but flexible so you can meet your students where they are while making sure they’re getting what they need.

Let’s Dig into the Science of Reading Small Group Lesson:

1. Quick Skills Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Goal: Get kids’ brains warmed up with phonics and fluency practice.

Phonics Focus:
- Review a phonics pattern you’ve been working on
- Have kids read and manipulate words using that pattern.
Fluency Boost:
- Choral read or echo read a tricky sentence from the upcoming book.
- Focus on expression, accuracy, and phrasing.

2. Read the Grade-Level Text (5 Minutes)

Goal: Support kids as they read more complex text—without overwhelming them.

Pick the Right Text:
- Choose a grade-level text related to your whole-group lesson or content area.
- Pre-teach tricky words or concepts before reading.
Scaffold Their Reading:
- Model a short section first to set the tone.
- Use scaffolding strategies to help students tackle the text.
Make It Meaningful:
- Pause at key moments to ask open-ended questions: “Why do you think the character did that?” “What clues helped you figure that out?”

3. Making Meaning of the Text (5 Minutes)

Goal: Reinforce comprehension and get kids thinking like real readers.

Quick Partner Discussion

Have students turn to a partner and answer: “What was the story mostly about?”

Encourage them to support their answer with details from the text.

Guide students to make connections to deepen their understanding with prompts like:

“Have you ever been in a situation like the character?”
“How does this story remind you of something we’ve learned?”

(Optional) Comprehension Questions/ Activity

Story Map: Students sketch or write key details (characters, setting, problem, solution).
Sequencing Cards: Have students put key events in order.
Act It Out or Create an Illustration to show key events.

4. Responding to the Text (5 Minutes)

Goal: Give students a chance to reflect on and synthesize their learning.

Short Written Response

Provide a sentence stem to support writing, such as:

“I learned that ___ because ___.”
“This story taught me ___ because ___.”
“I think the most important part was ___ because ___.”

For younger or struggling writers, allow them to dictate their response before writing.

(Optional) Exit Check

Fluency Check: Ask students to reread a tricky sentence with expression.
Vocabulary Review: Have students explain a new word in their own words or draw a quick sketch of its meaning.
Quick Rating: Students hold up fingers (1-3) to rate how well they understood today’s reading.

That’s it! Super manageable to plan for all different skill groups the learning levels in a typical classroom.

Sample Plans for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade

The beauty about this small group lesson structure is that regardless of the grade/ reading level, it stays the same! The only thing that shifts are the strategies and materials, based on your students’ needs.

Sample 20 Minute Kindergarten Reading Group Plan

a simple sentences with touch dots workmat

Sample 20 Minute 1st Grade Reading Group Plan

Science of Reading Small Group Goals:

Practice decoding words with short vowels and blends.
Build fluency with reading grade level text.
Identify key details and new words in grade level text.
Write simple, complete sentences.

a phonics word ladder for working on short vowels

a decodable passage focusing on short vowels

Sample 20 Minute 2nd Grade Small Group Plan