• Talk about the title of the book and the information on the back cover.
• Read page 2 with your child. What do they think Dean might do for a job?
• Browse quickly through the rest of the book. Where is the book set?
Phonics
Your child should be able to read most of the words in this book by saying the letter sounds then blending them together. Remind your child that sometimes one sound can be made by two or three letters, e.g. b-l-ue becomes blue. Some decodable words in this book are: way out tie Dean enjoy dirt blue claw
Common words
This page is for adults to read
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Common words (also called ‘high-frequency’ words) are words that children will use in everyday speech or will come across regularly while reading. Some words (‘tricky’ or ‘common exception’ words) have letter combinations that cannot be read using their current phonics knowledge, e.g. the letter ‘eo’ in people makes the /ee/ sound. Encourage your child to identify which parts of the word they know and which parts are tricky, then help them with the tricky part if needed. Some common words in this book are:
Developing vocabulary
In order for children to develop their understanding, it’s important that they regularly learn new words. Some words in this book may be tricky for your child to read using their phonic skills alone, but they are important for meaning. Encourage your child to read these words by saying and blending the letter sounds as much as they can, then help them with the tricky part or simply read the word to them. Check to see if your child can read and understand the following words before reading:
During reading
To encourage your child to be an independent reader, ensure they are ‘in charge’ of the book, i.e. that they are holding the book, turning the pages, etc. Enjoy the book together by:
• encouraging your child to read at their own pace, pointing under each word if it helps
• prompting your child, if necessary, to say the letter sounds, then blend them together to say the word, e.g. th-aw-s becomes thaws
• encouraging your child to come up with their own questions and comments, as well as responding to your questions, so they know their thoughts and views are valued
• sharing aloud your thoughts on the real-life hero; this provides your child with a model to share their views, e.g. I wonder how Dean is feeling here? I think he looks …
• using lots of praise.
Dean helps keep roads and parks clean.
Dean and his kit. broom
litter picker with claw
bright jacket
First thing
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I get started first thing in the morning.
Lots of people are still asleep.
sweep the streets …
pick up litter …
Dirt and grit
The sweeper picks up lots of dirt and rubbish.
I get about quicker this way.
In winter, I scatter grit so people do not slip.
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The grit thaws the frost.
The hard bits
I go out in all seasons.
It can be hard in the wind and rain.
Good morning, Mrs Floyd.
However, I enjoy my job. I meet people and it keeps me fit!
Litter can mount up if I do not pick it up.
I must clean this up!
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It looks horrible and smells bad.
What happens next?
Highways cleaners get the rubbish on to their truck.
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Some rubbish has to go in the ground. Some of it is burnt. Some of it is sorted.
You can help!
We can all help keep our streets and parks clean.
We saw all this litter.
We have come to help pick it up!
You can join in with a litter pick.
What have you found, children?
After reading
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• Using the ‘Look it up!’ section on page 16, make sure your child understands the meaning of all the words. Explain what the Index is for, and encourage them to use it.
• Talk with your child about the book. Here are some questions you could ask:
What time of day does Dean start work?
Look at page 8. What might be hard about Dean’s job?
Look at page 9. What does Dean like about his job?
• Talk about what might happen if we didn’t have highways cleaners like Dean.
• Encourage your child to read the book again. This will build their reading confidence and fluency.
Other things to do
Encourage your child to role-play being a highways cleaner. Talk about some of the things they like and dislike about their job.
3
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, United Kingdom
The moral rights of the author have been asserted First Edition published in 2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by licence or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available
978-1-382-01412-0
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Paper used in the production of this book is a natural, recyclable product made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing process conforms to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
Printed in China by Golden Cup Printing Co Ltd
Acknowledgements
The character featured in this book is a fictional character used to help portray the role of a real-life hero. Illustrations by Beatriz Castro Teaching notes by Suzannah Ditchburn
The publisher and authors would like to thank the following for permission to use photographs and other copyright material: Cover: Artwork by Beatriz Castro, photos by Blend Images - Don Mason/Getty images (inset) and Zen Rial/Moment/Getty Images. Photos: p2: Blend Images - Don Mason/Getty images; p3, p9–11, & p14–15: John R Martin/Shutterstock; p4: Tim Gainey/Alamy Stock Photo; p5: Tim Gainey/Alamy Stock Photo; p6: Keith Erskine/Alamy Stock Photo; p7: DimaBerlin/Shutterstock; p8: Zen Rial/Moment/Getty Images; p12: CAMimage/Alamy Stock Photo; p13: CAMimage/Alamy Stock Photo; p13(inset): kanvag/Shutterstock.
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of material reproduced in this book. Any omissions will be rectified in subsequent printings if notice is given to the publisher.
