A Project for Kevin

A Project for Kevin

For months, Kevin's mother had shared stories about her work at the children's hospital. Each week, she collected books to take to the hospital. Then she wheeled a cart to each room and gave the children books to read. Sometimes she read to them, and sometimes they read to her. "Reading aloud builds confidence," She explained.

Kevin was not allowed to accompany his mother to the children's room, but he was eager to find a way to help her. "What can I do?" he asked. His mother suggested that he make a poster for his classmates that explained about the hospital's program. They could help collect books for the children, too.

The next day, Kevin's teacher allowed him to put up a colorful poster he had made in his classroom. Then he told his friends about his mother's visits to the hospital. It didn't take long for his friends to respond. In just a few day, Kevin had collected more than one hundred books for the patients at the hospital.

"This is just wonderful," Kevin's mother said on the way to the hospital to drop off the books. "I'm delighted to see so many chapter books for the older kids."

As they pulled up to the entrance to the hospital, a nurse greeted them outside. "Kevin, I want to thank you for your kindness," she said.

"It was fun," Kevin said. "I just hope they enjoy the books."

http://gn009.k12.sd.us/Fluency%20Norms%20and%20Fluency%20Passages/Reading%20A%20to%20Z%20Fluency%20Passages/Level%20U.pdf

I’m a Good Babysitter 2.7

I’m a Good Babysitter 2.7

When I turned twelve years old I got to babysit for the first time. My aunt asked my parents if I could babysit my cousin. My aunt and uncle wanted to go to the movies. They said they would pay me! My cousin is two and still wears diapers. She knows me pretty well because my mother and my aunt are sisters. We spend a lot of weekends together and we live in the same town.

My parents talked it over and said yes. My uncle picked me up after supper and took me to their house. My cousin was waiting at the door. She was ready for bed and wearing her slippers. My aunt told me when to change her and put her in bed.

My aunt said we could both have graham crackers and apple juice for a snack and that my cousin loved bedtime stories. She gave me her cell phone number in case I had a problem. Mom called me about three times while I was babysitting. She said it was to make sure I was doing okay.

My cousin didn’t even cry when her mom and dad drove away. I read her ‘Goodnight, Moon,’ and ‘Pat the Bunny.’ I washed her face and changed her. She didn’t even cry when I put her in bed. Once my aunt called to see if everything was all right. I just watched TV until they came home. I think babysitting is fun and I hope my aunt asks me again.

Why do the main character’s aunt and uncle need a babysitter?

What can you tell from the first paragraph about how the main character feels about babysitting?

What happened right before he/she saw his/her cousin waiting at the door?

Why did the aunt give him/her, her cell phone number?

This story takes place at____.

My uncle picked me up after supper and took me to their house. What is a synonym for supper in this sentence?

What sentence in paragraph four helps the reader know that the baby cousin was not upset when her parents left?
How does the main character feel at the end of the story? Do you think she will want to baby sit in the future?

Writing My Life Story 2.6

Writing My Life Story 2.6

Today our teacher said we would each write a story. She said if we wanted we could draw pictures to go with it. I decided to write my life story. I started with the night I was born. I drew a picture of me as a tiny baby. I wrote about what my first words were and how I liked to play.

When I was little I was always making tall towers. My grandfather said he thought I would build hotels when I grew up. I drew a picture of me playing with my blocks.

I also liked to ride my scooter and swing on the swings in the park. I drew pictures of me on my scooter and a picture of my dad pushing me on the swing. The next picture is of me licking an ice cream cone and getting it all over me. I still love chocolate ice cream.

Then I wrote about my first day at school. I wrote about how I cried and cried because I didn’t want my mother to leave me. I made a drawing of me with a sad face. The last page is about my last birthday party. I drew of picture of me blowing out the candles on my birthday cake. There are six candles and I blew them all out.

Why does the author begin his/her story with the night he/she was born?

What did he write about after he drew the picture of him/herself as a tiny baby?

What leads the grandfather to believe that he/she will one day build hotels?

Which sentence for the story shows how he/she feels about ice cream?

I also liked to ride my scooter and swing on the swing in the park? Rewrite this sentence using a synonym for the word liked.

What is paragraph three mostly about?

Which sentence in paragraph four shows how he/she felt about his/her first day of school?

How old is the main character? How can you tell?

The Wind Has a Job to Do 2.5

The Wind Has a Job to Do 2.5

I learned that the wind is important for more than flying kites or making our wind chime make music. Without the wind, our world wouldn’t have any people, food, or animals. Wind moves the heat from the sun all around the planet. Without the wind, about half of the earth would be too hot for any living thing. Most of the rest of the earth would be too cold. In fact, most of our country would be under ice.

Wind is useful to all living things. It brings moisture up from the oceans into the air. Then the wind blows the moisture around. The moisture falls as rain, dew, or snow and ice.

Many plants and trees depend on the wind. The wind helps them spread their seeds to new places. Wind also blows pollen around so trees, grass, and grains can ripen. Without the wind, farmers couldn’t grow corn or wheat. Bees help the wind spread pollen. Their job is to fly from blossom to blossom with pollen on their feet and wings.

You can see for yourself how the wind spreads seeds. The next time you see a yellow dandelion that has turned into a white puffball, blow it. Or, if you find a maple tree seed with wings that looks like a helicopter, throw it. You’ll see all of the seeds go flying and you will be helping the wind do its job.

I learned that the wind is important for more than flying kites or making our wind chime make music. Is this sentence from paragraph one a fact or an opinion?

What word or words in the sentence help you to decide?

From paragraph one, give two examples of how the wind makes it possible for us to live on earth.

What happens before moisture falls as rain dew, or snow and ice?

In what way are plants and trees dependent on the wind?

In what two ways is pollen spread from plant to plant?

What is it about the seeds in paragraph four that makes it possible for the wind to blow them around?

What word in paragraph four means the opposite of grab?

Colors of the Rainbow 2.4

Colors of the Rainbow 2.4

I decided my favorite color is the rainbow. It has all the colors in it: red, yellow, blue, green, and purple. They are all my favorite colors. How could I ever choose just one? Red makes me feel like smiling. I love red cards and shiny red apples. My favorite type of candy is a red gum drop. My favorite flower is a red rose. I'm happy when I get to see a red sunset.

Blue makes me feel like taking a nap. My bed is fluffy blue and white clouds all over it. I love the blue sky and the ocean. Blue bubble gum is the best flavor of ice cream.

Yellow makes me feel like jumping rope. I love the sun in summer and the full moon in the fall. Our meadow is full of yellow flowers that dance in the breeze. Applesauce is one of my favorite treats, and it is kind of yellow. Fuzzy yellow ducklings always make me laugh.

Green makes me feel like climbing a tree. I love playing in the grass and the fields. Green gummy bears and pears are my special snacks. My favorite place to go is a park filled with trees and grass.

Purple makes me feel like eating grapes. I use my purple crayon so much it is almost gone. My favorite backpack is purple, too. Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite color is, I tell them it is a rainbow.

What sentence or sentences in paragraph two helps the reader know how the student feels about the color red?

List the red items that the author likes?

Why is the “rainbow” the student’s favorite color?

What word or words in paragraph one help the reader know what a rainbow is?

Paragraph four is mostly about….?

In paragraph three what word means the opposite of best?

Which color makes the character feel like climbing a tree?

Which color makes the character feel like eating grapes?

Open House at My School 2.3

Ope House at My School 2.3

We had open house at my school last week. My whole family went: my mom, my grandma, and I. We sat together at my table in my room. It was a tight squeeze for my mom and grandma, but they made it. My class has second and third graders in it. Some of my friends were there and their families came, too. My best friend was there. his stepfather and mother sat with him at his table. They took up the whole table because his little brother came along. I waved at him.

My other friend and her big sister came, too. Their family had two classes to visit at the same time because her brother goes to my school, too. Her mom went to her brother's room, and her big sister came to her room.

I like my teacher a lot. Our room looked really nice. Our teacher had been saving all of our best penmanship and drawings. They were hung all over the walls. My grandmother could tell right away which ones were mine. She used to be an artist. She says I take after her.

My teacher told all the parents how important it is for them to make sure we do our homework. He said anytime they have questions about us they can talk to him. Afterwards he talked to my mom and me. He said what a good job I was doing and my mom gave him a big hug when we left.

When was the open house?

Why was it a "tight squeeze" for mom and grandma?

In paragraph three what does the word penmanship mean?

You can tell that the author like art and is good at is because?

How does the student feel about his teacher?

How can you tell that the teacher is interested in his students?

How do you think the students felt at the end of the evening?

What make you think that?

Twins 2.2

Twins 2.2

Six years ago my family grew from two people to four people in one day. That was the day my sister and I were born. That was the day Mom and Dad had to start buying two of everything. My mom and dad say we were much more than twice the work of one baby. They also said we gave back more than twice as much love and fun.

We look just alike because we are identical twins, but we don't act just the same. My sister likes peas and beans and I hate them. I like grape juice and she likes apple juice. She likes to read. I would rather climb a tree than read a book.

Mom and Dad are the only ones who can tell us apart when we dress the same. They know the secret. I have a mole on my ear and my sister doesn't We look so much alike that we can even fool Grandma and Grandpa.

It's nice to be a twin sometimes. We always have someone our own age who will share our secrets. Sometimes we don't want to share everything. Sometimes it is nice to have my mom or my toys all to myself. Dad says we aren't really that much alike because no person is exactly like anyone else.

Monday:

Why did the family grow from two to four people in one day?

Write a summary for paragraph one.

Tuesday:

What does mom say about how much work twins are?

What do they give back?

Wednesday:

Which sentence in paragraph two shows that the twins are not identical in every way?

How are the twins not alike?

Thursday:

How do the twins feel about being twins?

What words in paragraph two help the reader know what identical means?

Riding the Bus to School 2.1

Riding the Bus to School 2.1

I ride a big yellow bus to school. I stand on the corner of our street with my friends and we wait for the bus. My friend's grandma waits with us. When it's raining, she holds an umbrella to keep us dry. Sometimes when it's cold she brings us hot chocolate.

I leave my house to walk to the bus stop after my parent go to work. I watch the clock so I know when to leave. Sometimes mom phones me from her office to remind me. Sometimes she can't call, so I have to be sure to watch the time.

Our bus driver puts his flashing yellow lights on and them stops right next to us. When he has stopped he turns the red lights on so all the cars will stop. He makes sure we are all sitting down before he starts to go. He watches out for us very carefully.

My friends and I are the first ones to be picked up by the bus We like to sit right behind the bus driver and watch while he picks up all the other kids. We know where everyone lives. By the time we get to our school, the bus is almost full. Sometimes the kids get noisy and the driver has to remind us to keep it down. He says their noise makes it hard for him to concentrate and drive safely. I am glad that our bus driver is so careful.

Monday:

What does the grandma do when it is raining?

The reader can tell that the friend's grandma cares about them because…….?

Tuesday:

What does the student do after his parents go to work?

How does he know when to leave?

Wednesday:

What will probably happen if the student's mother does not call, and he forgets to watch the time?

Why does the bus driver turn the red lights on?

Thursday:

The reader can tell that the bus driver watches out for them because…….?

What word or words in paragraph four help the reader know what concentrate means?

Ice Skating

Ice Skating

Ice skating is a popular pastime for people living in cooler climates all over the world. The act of ice skating involves moving across ice on skates. Skates today are manufactured just for skating and consist of blades mounted on special boots. Primitive skates were attached to regular footwear. Ice skating is primarily done for recreation, but it is also a key component in several winter sports. People can skate on frozen rivers or lakes or at indoor and outdoor skating rinks.

No one knows for sure when humans first began the practice of ice skating. Archaeologists do believe that the activity was very widespread, however. Evidence of early skates made from animal bones has been found across both Western and Eastern Europe. The oldest skates ever found were dated back to 3000 BC. The first written record of ice skating as a sport was made in London (England), by William Fitzstephen in 1180. The first modern skates with sharpened steel edges are thought to have been invented by the Dutch in the 13th or 14th century. In the 15th century, a Dutch painter, Johannes Brugman, first featured ice skates in a work of art.

The metal blades on the bottom of ice skates today allow skaters to glide with very little friction over the surface of the ice. Skaters can also dig the blade in the ice to increase friction and control momentum. Gravity also aids skaters in moving forward. The motion of leaning and pushing, a technique called "drawing", is what allows skaters to gracefully glide on the ice.

Ice skating can be dangerous and requires precautions. The first major danger associated with ice skating is falling on the ice. Serious injury resulting from a fall is rare, but the hard ice surface and the exposed skate blades can contribute to bodily harm. The second, and more serious danger, is the chance of falling through the ice into the freezing water beneath. This danger is only applicable when skating outdoors. Falling through the ice can lead to injury or death resulting from shock, hypothermia, or drowning.

Finally, there are several international sports that involve ice skating. The most popular of these are figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating. The Winter Olympic Games feature these sports every four years. In fact, some of these sports, and skating for recreation, have become so popular that many places that do not experience cold enough winters for ice skating outdoors have installed indoor rinks.

The Class Meeting

The Class Meeting

The class secretary began writing the students' ideas on the chalkboard. Mr. Jacobs sat at his desk listening. He usually tried not to interfere with these class meetings.

Jerry Simmons stood up next. "That sounds okay, Susan,"he began, "but what if it rained that day? I think we need an alternative plan."

"How about an all night party here at school?" Craig Meyers blurted out. "That's what they did in my brother's class for high school graduation. They had a band and dancing in the gym and showed movies all night in another room." Craig looked around the room with a big grin on his face thinking his idea was certainly the best.

"I don't know," said Jonathan Wright. "Some of our parents might not support the idea of an all night party. But we could do that same type of thing from eight in the evening until midnight."

There was a period of silence while the students considered the options that had been raised. President Alicia took this chance to summarize. "So far," she explained, "we have had three, an evening party. Are there any other ideas before we put these to a vote?"