Level 3a
3
stories inside!
For guided and shared reading
How to use this book This book contains six short stories with a phonic focus on long vowel sounds and vowel digraphs. The stories combine easily decodable words, essential high-frequency words and a few more tricky words to challenge your child. Step 1 - You may like to read the story out loud first. If your child lacks confidence it will help to become familiar with the contents of the story before they try to read any of the words themselves. Step 2 - Phonemic Awareness - Awareness that the words we speak and hear are made up of smaller units of sounds is a key skill for beginner readers. Focus on a particular sound or spelling pattern such as, ‘ee’ or ‘ay’, and emphasise it in words as you read the story together. Step 3 - Phonics - Children need to begin to decode words, developing knowledge of phonics, syllables, and word parts. When focusing on a particular vowel phoneme, break a word up into separate sounds, then blend the sounds together again, e.g. m-ee-t, b-ea-ch, t-ie. Step 4 - Vocabulary - Acquiring and using new vocabulary is a vital skill in learning to read. Talk about any words that might not be familiar. Look at the pictures to help describe new words like ‘screech’ or ‘snatched’. Step 5 - Fluency - Reading fluently is a skill which can be achieved through familiarity with text. Come back to the stories in this series later, with the new purpose of reading them with expression and flow. Note any difficult spots and practise them. Then re-read the pages one more time. The more expression the better! Step 6 - Comprehension - Children can be too busy decoding the words to fully understand what they are reading. Talk about the story and ask questions. Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words, but make sure they don’t feel tested.
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The Queen’s treat
By Katie Carr
It had been a long, bleak winter, with a cold east wind and freezing sleet. Quarrelsome Queen was not feeling pleased. 2
She went to speak to Kicking King. “I feel sad. I need a treat!” she said. Kicking King agreed with her. “I think we could all do with a treat.” 3
“Let’s have a big feast!” said Kicking King. “But I don’t like feasts!” said Quarrelsome Queen. “If we have a feast, I will eat too much and then I will feel ill.” 4
Greedy seagulls
By Katie Carr
Mike got a letter from Sammy one day, asking him to come and stay. 18
So Mike jumped on a train to the sea, and Sammy met him just before three. 19
“What’s up?” asked Mike. “Will you explain.” Said Sammy, “It’s these seagulls again!” 20
No socks!
By Lucy Lind
It was the day of the school football match. Noisy Nick was playing for the green side. 34
Nick was looking for his green and white football socks. He looked in his bag. No socks! 35