Setting Purpose: From Engagement Text to Decodables | EL Education Curriculum

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ELA GK:S4:C20:L101

Setting Purpose: From Engagement Text to Decodables

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Daily Learning Targets

  • Opening A: I can retell events from the story "Josh Takes a Bath."
  • Work Time A (optional): Using evidence from the text, I can answer questions about the story "Josh Takes a Bath."
  • Work Time B: I can read the decodable text "Josh Takes a Bath." (RF.K.1, RF.K.3)
    • I can move my finger under words as I read them on a page, left to right and top to bottom.
    • I can turn the pages in order and begin reading the page on the left side, then the page on the right.
    • I can map graphemes (letters) and phonemes (sounds) for consonants in words I see or read.
    • I can map graphemes (letters) and phonemes (sounds) for vowels in words I see or read.
    • I can recognize and read many high-frequency words by sight.

Ongoing Assessment

  • Observe students during Work Time.
    • Determine whether they can independently find a given letter or word.
    • Also determine whether they can segment consonant and vowel sounds within words and identify familiar sounds in or automatically read high-frequency words.
  • Record students' progress on the Snapshot Assessment.

Agenda

Agenda

1. Opening (3-5 minutes)

A. Engagement Text Read-aloud: "Josh Takes a Bath"

2. Work Time (10 minutes)

A. Comprehension Conversation (optional)

B. Decodable Reader: Partner Search and Read

3. Closing and Assessment (2 minutes)

A. Reflecting on Learning

4. Differentiated Small Group Instruction and Rotations (40-45 minutes)

In Advance

  • Prepare:
    • Comprehension Conversation questions (if different from suggested questions)
    • Snapshot Assessment (optional; one per student)
  • Predetermine partnerships for retelling during Work Time B.
  • Gather materials for differentiated small group instruction (see Differentiated Small Groups: Work with Teacher).

Vocabulary

Key: Lesson-Specific Vocabulary (L); Text-Specific Vocabulary (T)

  • decode, proficient (L)
  • puddle, apartment (T)

Materials

  • Enlarged Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath" (one to display)
  • Engagement Text: "Josh Takes a Bath" (one for teacher use)
  • Highlighter, highlighting tape, or Wikki Stix (for teacher use)
  • Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath" (one per student; see Student Workbook)
  • Snapshot Assessment (optional; one per student)

Opening

OpeningMeeting Students' Needs

A. Engagement Text Read-aloud: "Josh Takes a Bath"

  • Suggested transition song, sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot":

"Gather around together, and listen up well. We're going to read a story that you can retell. When we read the story, you will grow. At the end, you'll say back what you know."

  • Display Enlarged Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath."
  • Begin a read-aloud of the Engagement Text: "Josh Takes a Bath":

1. Teacher says: "Listen carefully as I read today's story, 'Josh Takes a Bath.' Listen for some familiar words. After I am finished reading, you will retell the story to a partner and answer some questions about it."

2. Teacher reads the story aloud once or twice without interruption, pointing to the accompanying illustration from the Enlarged Decodable Reader for each section.

3. Students turn to a partner and retell the story in their own words.

  • Consider providing a copy of the Decodable Reader to students who need help retelling the story. The illustrations in the reader show the sequence of the story; students can simply retell the details based on what they see in the illustrations.
  • Consider providing students with sentence frames to help them retell the story. For example:
    • "In this story, first, _____. Then, _____. Finally, _____."

Work Time

Work TimeMeeting Students' Needs

A. Comprehension Conversation (optional)

  • Teacher asks the following suggested comprehension questions:
    • Recall:

"How does Josh get dirty?" (He falls in a puddle.)

"Where does Josh find to take a bath?" (in a trash can lid that has collected rainwater)

    • Vocabulary and Language:

"In the story it says, 'He swims around, doing the backstroke, then floating on his back.' What does 'backstroke' mean?" (moving your arms to swim while you're on your back) "How do you know?" (It says he was swimming, so it must be something you do when you're swimming.) "What part of the word 'backstroke' could help us know what it means?" ("back" helps us know he was on his back.)

"After Josh got out of the lid, it says his fur was 'mud-free.' What does that mean?" (There was no mud on it.)

"When Josh found a sunny spot on the sidewalk, the story said he was 'so warm and comfy.' What other word could the author have used for 'comfy'?" (cozy, comfortable)

    • Digging Deeper: Extension Questions:

"Why does Josh lie in the sun?" (to get dry) "What from the story makes you know that he laid in the sun to get dry?" (Just before he laid in the sun, the story said, "He hops out of the trash can lid and goes back to the park to dry off.")

  • Consider making comprehension questions optional if students need more time for learning routines for the decodable.
  • Consider providing students with sentence frames to help them answer comprehension questions. Example:
    • "I think [insert name of character] is _____ because _____."

B. Decodable Reader: Partner Search and Read

  • Suggested transition song, sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot":

"Now we'll read a story with letters that we know. Get your finger ready to follow the flow. When we see a word, we'll stop and look and get our mouths ready to read the book."

  • Begin the Decodable Reader: Partner Search and Read instructional practice:

1. Teacher displays Enlarged Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath."

2. Teacher says: "This book is based on the Engagement Text: 'Josh Takes a Bath.' I will read the words first, and then you will read the words with me. Look and listen for high-frequency words and for letter sounds that you know."

3. Teacher reads the Enlarged Decodable Reader aloud at least once, pointing to each word as it is read aloud.

4. Teacher reads the text once more. Teacher thinks aloud as he or she notices the high-frequency words "is," "in," "the," "he," "will," and "have." Teacher highlights the words with a highlighter.

5. Teacher says: "Wow! This book has many of the high-frequency words we know well. We've been practicing them, so we know them in a snap!"

6. Teacher rereads page 3.

7. Teacher asks:

"Can you find the letter 'c'?"

8. Teacher says: "This letter makes the /k/ sound at the beginning of this word."

9. Teacher highlights the letter.

10. Teacher asks:

"Can you find the letter 'p'?"

11. Teacher says: "This letter makes the /p/ sound at the end of this word."

12. Teacher highlights the letter.

13. Teacher asks:

"What vowel is in the middle of this word?" ("u")

14. Teacher says: "That's right! 'u' makes the /u/ sound. This word is pronounced 'cup.' Great job!"

15. Teacher says: "Now I will give a book to each of you. You and your partner will read the book together. Pay close attention to the high frequency words 'the,' 'and,' 'is,' 'a,' 'see,' and other words we know in the book."

16. Teacher distributes the Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath" to each student.

17. Students read the Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath" with a partner. Partners may take turns (by page or whole text), read in unison, or both.

18. As they read, partners search for high-frequency words and letters in the Decodable Reader: "Josh Takes a Bath" together, "circling" high-frequency words with their fingers and pointing to letters as they say their sounds. Teacher circulates to help partners who need additional support finding words.

19. Teacher says: "Today you searched for words in a book instead of a poem. Soon, you won't just be searching for words you know, you'll be reading new words!"

  • If readers in the Pre-Alphabetic or Partial Alphabetic phase need help finding the high-frequency words, consider allowing a reader in the Full Alphabetic phase to help them. Or ask them to find the beginning letter of the word instead of the whole word.
  • If students need help recalling letter sounds, remind them of the keyword and sound of the letter. Example:
    • The keyword for letter "c" in "cat" and "c" makes the /k/ sound.
  • As an extension for readers in the Full Alphabetic phase, consider asking students to think of a word that begins with the letter being searched.
  • Encourage students to "tap out" the CVC and VC words they read or point to each letter as they say its sound.

Closing & Assessments

ClosingMeeting Students' Needs

A. Reflecting on Learning

  • Emphasize that successful learners think about what they've learned and why it's important. Consider using a metaphor, such as a baseball player learning to keep his or her eye on the ball to know exactly when to hit it.
  • Ask:

"When we see a word that ends with the letters 'th,' like 'bath,' how can we remember the sound it makes?" (Think of our Keyword Letter Card, and listen for the sound that "th" makes at the end.)

"How will that help us with reading or writing?" (Responses will vary.)

  • For students who need additional support organizing their ideas: Provide sentence frames. Example:
    • "When I saw the word 'have,' I _____."

Differentiated Small Groups: Work with Teacher

Suggested Plan: Teacher works with the Pre-Alphabetic and Partial Alphabetic groups. At this point in the year, the teacher may be ready to meet with three rather than just two groups per day. If so, the teacher should work with students in the Full and Consolidated Alphabetic phases at least once per week. The teacher may choose to guide students through the suggested independent activity or refer to the possible practice activities.

Note: Groups not working with the teacher at a given time should be engaged in purposeful independent rotation work. Refer to the Independent and Small Group Work guidance document (see K-2 Skills Resource Manual) for more details.

All Groups

Either today or another day this week after the Decodable Student Reader has been introduced, follow the Decodable Student Reader routine with each group. Differentiate the routine as needed based on students' microphase. See Lesson 71 or Independent and Small Group Work guidance document for full routine. See supporting materials for Decodable Student Reader Planning and Recording Template.

Pre-Alphabetic:

  • Practice activity: Teacher guides students in cutting apart letters to build high-frequency words from previous cycles.
    • Students cut apart letters from the Letter sheet.
    • Teacher guides students in building high-frequency words "have" and "is."
    • Students paste letters on the High-Frequency Words sheet.
  • Consider also reading the Letter Stories: "th," "sh," or the vowels, found in the Learning Letters Book. After reading the stories, practice skywriting the letters. Repeat the following day with the remaining letters.
  • Additional Supporting Materials:
    • Letter sheet (one per student)
    • High-Frequency Words sheet (one per student)
    • Lined handwriting paper (optional)

Partial Alphabetic:

  • Practice activity: Students cut apart letters to build mystery words from previous cycles.
    • Students cut apart letters from the Letter sheet.
    • Teacher guides students in building high-frequency words "have" and "is."
    • Students paste letters on the High-Frequency Words sheet.
  • Additional Supporting Materials:
    • Letter sheet (one per student)
    • High-Frequency Words sheet (one per student)
    • Lined handwriting paper (optional)

Full and Consolidated Alphabetic:

  • Independent Practice activity: Students complete "missing word" sentences with high-frequency words from previous cycles.
    • Students write missing high-frequency words in decodable sentences on the High-Frequency Word Sentences sheet.
    • Students create new sentences with high-frequency words.
    • Consider marking the Decodable Reader words by instructing students to make a box around high-frequency words. Instruct students to underline short vowel sounds they know.
  • Conference with students about Accountable Independent Reading.
  • Additional Supporting Materials:
    • High-Frequency Word Sentences sheet (one per student)
    • Additional writing paper

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