Short stories:
1) The Christmas present:
John woke up on Christmas morning and found a large present at the end of the bed. It was wrapped in brown paper. John’s brother, Brad, came into his bedroom and they opened the present together.
Literal Questions:
Where was the present? At the end of John’s bed Who came into John’s bedroom? His brother, Brad How was the present wrapped? In brown paper Inferential questions:
How old do you think John is?
What do you think a good present would be for John?
Targets:
Irregular past tense verbs: woke, found, was, came
‘Th’ in initial and medial positions: brother, they, together Blends ‘br’ and ‘pr’: present, brown, brother, Brad
Final consonants‘s’, ‘d’, ‘m’: Christmas, and, found, end,
2) Brushing my teeth
Every morning before school I brush my teeth. When I lose a tooth I put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy. I lost my first tooth when I was seven (7) years old.
Literal Questions:
When does the narrator (the person who is telling the story) brush their teeth? Every morning before school
How old was he or she when they lost their first tooth? Seven (7)
Where does he or she put their tooth after they have lost it? Under their pillow (for the tooth fairy)
Inferential Questions:
Why would he or she leave their tooth for the tooth fairy? Because the tooth fairy leaves money for the child
Why should we brush our teeth? To keep them strong and clean
Targets:
‘Th’ in initial and final positions: tooth, teeth Irregular plural: teeth
Irregular past tense: lost, was Prepositions: under
Varied tense: present simple and past simple Sequencing
3) My Dragon (No. 1)
Last weekend it was my sixth birthday. My favourite present was a pet dragon. He has green scales and breathes flames through his nostrils.
Literal Questions:
When was my sixth birthday? Last weekend What was my favourite present? A pet dragon
Describe the dragon. He has green scales and breathes flames through his nostrils
Inferential Questions:
Do you think this is a true story? Why?
Targets:
‘Th’ in medial and final positions: sixth, birthday, breathes Blends: present, dragon, green, breathes, through, nostrils Irregular past tense: was
Prepositions: through
4) My Dragon (No. 2)
In art last week I drew a dragon. I named him Brett and carried him everywhere. I wish I had a real dragon as a pet.
Literal Questions:
In which class did I draw the dragon? Art What did I name my dragon? Brett
What is my wish? To own a real dragon Inferential Questions:
How would you draw a dragon?
What is something you don’t have that you wish you had? (Can be real or imaginary – for example, a camera or a flying carpet/ ability to walk through walls)
Targets:
Blends: drew, dragon, Brett
Irregular past tense: was, drew, had Sequencing
5) Dressing up:
Next weekend I will play dress-ups with my brother and my sister. My brother likes to dress up as a pirate and my sister likes to dress up as a princess.
Literal Questions:
When will I play with my brother and sister? Next weekend
What game will we play? Dress-ups
What are the favourite characters for my brother and sister? Brother: a pirate; my sister: a princess
Inferential Questions:
What costume would you need to look like a pirate or a princess? Why?
Targets:
‘S’ in initial, medial, and final position: sister, house, dress,
dress-ups, princess
Various blends: play, dress, brother, sister, princess Pronoun difference: I like, s/he likes
1) The Christmas present:
John woke up on Christmas morning and found a large present at the end of the bed. It was wrapped in brown paper. John’s brother, Brad, came into his bedroom and they opened the present together.
2) Brushing my teeth
Every morning before school I brush my teeth. When I lose a tooth I put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy. I lost my first tooth when I was seven (7) years old.
3) My Dragon (No. 1)
Last weekend it was my sixth birthday. My favourite present was a pet dragon. He has green scales and breathes flames through his nostrils.
4) My Dragon (No. 2)
In art last week I drew a dragon. I named him Brett and carried him everywhere. I wish I had a real dragon as a pet.
5) Dressing up:
