Use this pre-reading exercise to help students practice ahead of time words they will encounter in their controlled reading text.
Choose words from your story for the main characters and setting, and key nouns or verbs related to the plot. This will allow students to practice important words they will encounter in the text, and will help orient them to what the story will be about. You can discuss the topic, and make sure they know what all the words mean.
Write your chosen words on slips of paper and mix them up so they are not sorted in any order. Give the stack of words to the student and have the them read through all the words to make sure they can sound them out and explain what they mean. If there are any words they have trouble reading, or are unfamiliar with, put them back in the stack so they can practice again.
Once the student can comfortably read all the words, put the slips face down on the table and mix them up.
If you haven’t already talked to your student about character, setting and plot, explain what the terms mean. Put out category header cards for each (get free download to print these here: elements of fiction header cards).
Practice story words by sorting into character, setting and plot.
The student draws each slip of paper, reads the word, then decides which category it best fits in. Have them explain their choice to make sure it’s not just a lucky guess!
For instance, in the Sound Out series book called Champs, I chose the following words:
Fred, Beth, the Jets, the Seals, Coach Grant, ump
home plate, the stands, dugout
broke, cast, sub, play offs, pop fly, line drive, slide, bunt, home run
This gives you a chance to discuss words like cast, sub, ump and bunt that they may be able to sound out, but not know what they mean. By talking about these words before they encounter them in the story, you are helping your student have a better chance at success in their reading.
Download free printable category heading cards here: elements of fiction header cards.