Guided reading is used in classrooms across the country and, while it is fairly new, it is anything but revolutionary. In this article, and in honor of the 50th volume of "Reading Horizons," the authors take a look back at the 50-year history of this practice, provide a definition of guided reading, analyze what caused the practice to…

Offers suggestions for effective use of the Directed Reading-Thinking Activity developed by R. Stauffer. (FL)

Suggests that critical reading and reading comprehension be taught separately at first to insure that students learn both to understand and to evaluate pieces of writing. (MKM)

Suggests using the Guided Reading Procedure as a prereading activity and as a postreading activity when students have read different materials. (MKM)

Concludes, among other things, that teacher-set prereading purposes in a basal reader directed reading activity have a definite value and should not be treated lightly nor implemented casually by teachers as they do seem to facilitate comprehension and that basal reader teacher guides should do a better job with regard to such purposes. (FL)

Proposes an instructional model that uses a directed reading-thinking activity for teaching students to preview their textbook materials. (FL)

Describes one teacher's reading aloud a Paula Danziger novel to motivate a group of adolescents to think and respond critically to read-aloud fiction. Includes examples of discussion strategies used to help students judge word play, recognize different points of view, and evaluate the author's ability to relate to her audience. (ARH)