Classroom Resources: Teacher’s Reference Guide · 2017-06-29 · Classroom Resources: Teacher’s...

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Classroom Resources: Teacher’s Reference Guide Level 5 to 10 Stories

Level 5 Colossal Coaster (Fiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 830 I guess Mom was right about the vegetables. After a summer of eating every color of the rainbow, from bright green broccoli to deep burgundy beets, I was finally tall enough. That morning, I had caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I had never looked so tall in my life! Part of me almost wished I had a doctor’s appointment so I could get an official number. But, going to Wild Adventure Rides was a lot more fun than going to the doctor’s office. I was ready for the Colossal Coaster! I had been waiting to ride it for three summers. Year after year, a ride operator had pulled out a measuring stick only to tell me that I wasn’t going to make the cut. As I walked toward the turnstile, I couldn’t shake my nerves. My brother went through without any problem. But then, grinning, the ride operator had pulled out the familiar measuring stick, marked in red at four feet. As I stretched every muscle in my body upward I felt everyone’s eyes on me. “Enjoy the ride,” said the operator. My heart racing, I suddenly realized that the Colossal Coaster looked a lot scarier up close! Medieval Legend (Fiction) Word count: 202; Lexile: 830 A young boy pulls a magic sword from a block of stone. Everyone is astounded. The sword is called Excalibur, and the boy has just done what no one before him could do. He has proven that he is the rightful heir to the throne of Britain. The boy becomes king; the tale becomes legend. The young boy is none other than the legendary King Arthur of medieval Britain. For many hundreds of years, the world has heard tales such as this one about Arthur and his adventures. These stories have been some of the most popular in world literature. Storytellers passed on the earliest accounts of King Arthur by mouth. They told fabulous tales about the king’s conquests and brave deeds, as well as those of his Knights of the Round Table. It was the glorious age of chivalry and heroism ran through all of the stories. Historians believe that storytellers may have based their stories about King Arthur on an actual British leader in the early 500s. But we know very little about the real Arthur. Even Camelot, Arthur’s favorite residence and a famous part of the legends, remains a mystery. No one really knows where the castle is exactly.


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Level 5 Continued The Butterfly: A Chinese Tale (Fiction) Word count: 205; Lexile: 830 When Master Chuang was a young student, he spent most of his time reading. He rarely had time to appreciate the beauty of nature. One summer day, young Chuang read a book under some bamboo as a soft breeze blew through the garden. He was very relaxed and before long his eyes began to close. Young Chuang fell asleep and had a strange dream. He dreamed he was a butterfly, flying around the garden. His body was as light as a feather and his large, colorful wings carried him high into the sky. He flew so high that he touched the fluffy clouds as the world below sparkled in the sunlight. “This is wonderful!” young Chuang exclaimed as he flew over rooftops and mountains. Suddenly a gust of wind blew the branches of the bamboo, and a leaf fell on young Chuang as he slept. Startled, he woke up and looked around, his arms heavy. “Where are my wings?” he shouted. He did not know if he was a man dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man. From that day forward, young Chuang always appreciated the beauty of nature. He grew up to be a famous philosopher. Breaking the News (Fiction) Word count: 176; Lexile: 840 “I’m telling you it is true,” Nick whispered urgently to his sister Pauline. “Mom and dad would never do that to us. Besides, they’ve promised,” said Pauline confidently. Pauline had begged for a trip to Disney World and was positive that her parents would break the news tonight. But Nick had just told her that the plans were quite different — to his joy and Pauline’s dismay. So now, they were eavesdropping on their parents’ conversation. All of a sudden, the door burst open and the kids fell flat on their bottoms. “What’s going on here?” said their father. “Sorry, Dad, but why are you taking so long to tell us about the trip to Florida?” asked Pauline. Her mom gave her dad a heartbroken look. “Sorry, dear. There is no trip to Florida this year. Dad and I have to stay in town during the summer holidays. We were thinking you should go to summer school.” Nick stared at his sister with an expression that said, “I told you so.” Before her parents could explain, Pauline ran crying to her bedroom as her dreams of a fun-filled summer came crashing down around her.


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Level 5 Continued The Longest 15 Minutes (Fiction) Word count: 202; Lexile: 840 Navid cannot sit still from excitement. Today is the day he expects to get his X-ray vision goggles in the mail. “Six weeks for delivery,” said the small print on the back of his Ogres in Space comic book. And today it has been 42 days since he mailed off the order form together with a check for $14. Navid knows that the mail carrier comes at about four o’clock each afternoon, so at a quarter to four, Navid is already sitting on the front porch, waiting for him to show up. While he waits, Navid imagines all the ways he can use the goggles. He can spy on his older brother Nate who never comes out of his room anymore. Surely Navid will be able to see through doors and walls with his X-ray vision goggles. He can find out what his cat, Monkey Wrench, looks like under all that fur. Do cat bones look like human bones? And hidden treasures; he could find lots of hidden treasure with X-ray goggles. Navid’s daydreams are interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Could it be the mail carrier? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Nonfiction) Word count: 193; Lexile: 860 Owned by the wonderful Willy Wonka, the factory in the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is no ordinary place. It is a place where chocolate flows like rivers. Believe it or not, at the factory, candy even grows on trees! At the beginning of the novel, Willy Wonka decides to hold a competition. Five lucky winners will receive a tour of the fabulous factory. The only way to win is to find a golden ticket hidden inside a Willy Wonka chocolate bar. Soon, people around the world are scrambling to find the hidden tickets! As soon as he hears about the competition, Charlie Bucket can think of nothing else but winning. Charlie is a young boy. He lives in a tiny house with his parents and grandparents. With no money for luxuries, Charlie’s hopes of finding a winning ticket are slim. One day, though, Charlie finds a dollar bill buried in the snow. He uses some of the money to buy himself a chocolate bar. Amazingly enough, the bar holds the last of the five golden tickets! Accompanied by his Grandpa Joe, Charlie sets out on an adventure inside Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory.


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Level 5 Continued Paused (Fiction) Word count: 197 ; Lexile: 860 He nimbly leaped over the boiling cauldron and landed face to face with the cackling witch. Chanting, she pointed a warty green finger at him and closed her eyes. He jumped to his feet and raced toward the exit. Breathing a sigh of relief, he bolted the heavy, wood door behind him. The dim light from the candles cast a soft glow in front of him. He tightened his pack, lifted his lantern high and took a few, tentative steps. He could hear the dragon’s roar growing louder as he inched his way down the corridor. He had survived the Forbidding Forest and waded through the Repulsive Ravine. He had fought off pesky gnomes as he crossed the Hair-Raising Hollow. His heart was racing and tiny beads of sweat stung his eyes as they trickled down his forehead. As he reached for his sword and took another step forward, his leg suddenly stopped in mid-air. He couldn’t blink. His hand was frozen by his side. He sighed with disappointment as he heard Timmy set down the remote control and race upstairs for dinner. His dragon-slaying would have to wait until Timmy came back to finish the game. The Underdogs (Fiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 870 It was a new school year at Pinewood Elementary — the year of the Pinewood Lions! Jack was the star of the Pinewood Lions basketball team and they were finally going to beat the Panthers. He was an amazing player — when he wasn’t being a total ball hog. He often missed opportunities to throw to open players so that he could get the shot. Eventually, Coach Smith was so frustrated with Jack’s attitude that he asked him to sit out a game. Jack was so mad that he quit the team, and before long, he left Pinewood Elementary. The team was down, but not out. Coach Smith reminded the players that they could do anything if they focused and worked hard. Finally, the day of the big game arrived and the Panthers came out with a new player — Jack! “You guys are going down!” he bragged. At halftime, the Lions were leading by one point and worked together to keep their head above water. With five seconds left in the game, Jack had the ball. “Over here!” his teammates called, but Jack wouldn’t listen and he made the shot. The ball flew through the air and bounced off the rim, just as the buzzer sounded. Goliath Frogs (Nonfiction) Word count: 193; Lexile: 879 What is more than a foot long, eats scorpions for dinner, and has been on the Ear th for 250 million years? The correct answer is the goliath frog. Goliath frogs are the world’s largest species of frog. They are also very rare. Goliath frogs are found only in a few rivers and rainforests in regions of West Africa. They are considered to be endangered. This means that they are at risk of becoming extinct.


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Level 5 Continued Goliath frogs are so rare that researchers are uncertain about the length of their lifespan. Researchers also don’t know how many are left in the wild. One thing that researchers know for sure is that goliath frogs do not have vocal chords. This means that they don’t croak like other species of frogs. Goliath frogs are also difficult to find because they usually come out to hunt for food at night. They eat scorpions, fish, insects, and other amphibians. There are a number of reasons that goliath frogs are endangered. Some lose their homes when habitats are destroyed because of logging, farming, and human settlements. Others are killed and sold, either as food or for their leathery skin. LEVEL 6 Oscar (Fiction) Word count: 211; Lexile: 880 “Absolutely not!” This is a phrase that I hear all day long. It seems like those are the only two words anyone ever says since we got Oscar. (I named our puppy Oscar because he seems to make all the adults in my life grouchy.) When I ask if Oscar can sleep in my bed, “Absolutely not!” is the answer. When I roll around in the mud with him, “Absolutely not!” is the shout I hear. Our neighbor, Mrs. Tilsonberg, yelled “Absolutely not!” the other day when Oscar tried to help her garden. She was digging, and he was digging. I really didn’t see what the big deal was. Yesterday, I was walking Oscar when he stopped on the patch of grass in front of Three Bears Bakery to do his business — if you know what I mean. I didn’t think anyone was watching, so I started walking away. That’s when — you guessed it — I heard “Absolutely not!” At that point, if I had heard “Absolutely not” one more time I would “absolutely not” have been very nice about it. But then, on our walk back home, Oscar started biting my pant leg and what did I do? I yelled, “Absolutely not!” Fossil Clues (Nonfiction) Word count: 205; Lexile: 930 Have you ever wondered how scientists know what dinosaurs looked like? Or how they could possibly know what dinosaurs once ate? Scientists have to do a lot of detective work with fossils to find answers to these questions. Fossils are things such as skeletons or footprints that have been covered over with sand or mud and preserved in Earth’s crust. Fossils can be millions of years old. They carry many important clues from the past.


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Level 6 Continued Dinosaur footprints, claws, bones, and even poop can become fossils. Scientists have been able to figure out how large dinosaurs were based on the size of the bones that have been discovered. There are also marks on the bones that show scientists where the dinosaur’s muscles were attached. This gives them an idea of what the body looked like based on the muscles of modern animals. Scientists can even use fossilized poop to learn about a dinosaur’s diet! If they find teeth or bones in the poop, there is a good chance the dinosaur was a meat-eater. When it comes to determining what color dinosaurs were, however, scientists are still in the dark. This is because all fossils take on the color of rock in which they are preserved. Stage Stumble (Fiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 930 “Jack Elson here, for SPUD News.” I’ve now practiced that self-introduction more times than I can count. Today, I’m auditioning for my school’s news program. Every year, one student from each grade gets to be a reporter for SPUD News. My sister was the sports reporter three years ago when she was in Grade 6. I’ve been dreaming of my turn since I was nine and this is the first year I’ve had the guts to try out. I decided to do a piece on the school’s soccer team. Aviva Coelho is the captain of the girls’ team and she’s agreed to be interviewed. The team has been doing great this year, so I’m pretty sure my segment will be a hit. It’s almost my turn to audition. There’s Aviva — how come I never noticed how soft and shiny her hair is? “Elson, get up on stage, it’s your turn,” barks Saroja Singh, the senior producer of SPUD News. I trip as I go up the steps. The lights come on. Saroja yells, “Action!” “Um, ah. Hi. My name is spud and I’m reporting for Jack Elson News.” I guess maybe next time I’ll interview the captain of the boys’ team. Zoo Day (Fiction) Word count: 202; Lexile: 930 We had been walking for hours but I still felt energetic. I couldn’t understand why my parents and my little sister were groaning. I was hoping to see the boa constrictor and the anacondas before lunch. The only problem was that right now we were stuck behind a crowd of people gawking at panda cubs. A man, his head dwarfed by an immense camera, was pushing his way to the front to get the best possible shots. My sister couldn’t stop squealing about how cute the pandas were. Tugging on my dad’s sleeve, she demanded to be hoisted onto his shoulders so she could get a better look.


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Level 6 Continued Shoved into a corner, I started to lose my cool. I knew that very soon, everyone would stop complaining about their feet and start focusing on their stomachs. We’d have to stop to eat at Safari Station on our way to the Reptile House. While we munched on messy burgers and greasy fries, we’d miss the boa’s daily feeding! Mumbling under my breath, I looked at the map. After lunch, I would ask if we could head straight for the African Reserve. Maybe we’d at least catch the wild cats having an afternoon snack. Annoying Little Brother (Fiction) Word count: 197; Lexile: 940 It was a rule: Meagan had to love Zach because he was her younger brother. What a stupid, ridiculous rule. No one could accuse her of not trying; she had — once or twice at least (even though Zach was such an irritating sibling). He would interrupt every phone conversation, poke his little head into her room, and play dumb tricks that only made him laugh. Mom had warned Meagan many times to change her attitude toward him because it only made things worse. Zach seemed to delight in the fact that their mom always scolded Meagan first, just because she was older. Meagan decided the time had come to teach her nosy and annoying brother a lesson — he definitely had to come to terms with their age difference and keep his distance. Meagan was 11 and Zach was five — there was no way they could play together. Unwavering, Meagan stormed into Zach’s room and dug into his box of building blocks. She used all 2,500 pieces to build the scariest monster ever, dressed him up, and placed it strategically in the center of the room. She then hid in the closet and waited for Zach’s imminent scream. Skater Girls (Nonfiction) Word count: 206 ; Lexile: 940 Even if you don’t know what an ollie, is, you probably have some sense of who Tony Hawk is. But do you know who Elissa Steamer is? What about Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins? The sad truth about pro skateboarding is that for a long time it was all about the men. Since the late 1990s, though, the women have been catching up — and fast. Elissa Steamer started skateboarding in 1989 at the age of 13 and went pro in 1998 after winning the first women’s street competition at Slam City Jam. She hasn’t looked back since. She won the same title the next year and has gone on to take home many other titles, including some at the X Games and World Cup. She was voted best female skater in the world two years in a row by Check It Out Magazine. Relative newcomer Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins is only 19 years old but is considered to be one of the best female skateboarders in the world. She has already won titles at the All Girl Skate Jam, Slam City Jam, and the X Games. She has also scored herself some sweet sponsors like DC Shoes, DC Apparel, and Nixon Watches. Watch out boys. Here come the girls!


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Level 6 Continued Velcro (Nonfiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 940 Heading out for a walk one day, George de Mestral probably didn’t think he’d come home with a million-dollar idea. De Mestral was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1907. In 1930, he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the Federal Institute of Technology. One day, after walking with his dog in the fields near his home, de Mestral noticed that the dog was covered in burrs. He struggled to pick the stubborn seeds from his dog’s coat. The annoying task made him curious about what made burrs so clingy. To find out, he decided to examine them under a microscope. De Mestral discovered that each tiny burr was covered in thin strands that stuck straight out. At the end of each strand was a hook, or barb. Inspired by nature, de Mestral set out to make a fastener that would cling as tightly as a natural burr. He created a hook and loop fastener that is easy to pull apart but has an amazingly tight grip. De Mestral perfected his invention and called it Velcro. He patented the product in 1955. Three years later, he founded Velcro Industries. Today, de Mestral’s handy invention is used by everyone from clothing manufacturers to NASA. Rogue Waves (Nonfiction) Word count: 201; Lexile: 960 Rogue waves are also called freak or monster waves. They are so enormous and powerful that for a very long time scientists didn’t believe they existed. Stories about these monster waves in the open ocean used to be written off as myths. That’s because rogue waves are truly incredible! They can be four times taller than the average wave. They have damaged, overwhelmed, and even sunk the biggest and toughest ships out there. From immense cruise ships to sturdy oil rigs, no vessel is safe. The crest, or the top, of a typical rogue wave can rise like a mountain of water. The trough, or the hollow between two waves, can be like a hole in the sea. These characteristics make rogue waves almost impossible to ride over and, of course, just a bit terrifying. In the end, scientists used satellite images to prove that rogue waves are very real indeed. They also recently discovered that the waves occur more frequently than first thought. Oceanographers originally guessed that rogue waves only appear once every century. However, some scientists estimate that 10 rogue waves can be rolling through the world’s oceans at any time. They can appear even in clear weather. Niagara Falls (Nonfiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 970 One of the world’s most majestic natural wonders is shared between the state of New York and Ontario, Canada. Situated on the Niagara River, Niagara Falls is an impressive site that attracts a steady stream of visitors every year. Visitors are eager to see this natural wonder with their own eyes.


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Level 6 Continued Niagara Falls is neither the tallest nor the biggest waterfall in the world. (The world’s tallest waterfalls are the Angel Falls in Venezuela. The world’s biggest falls, stretching over a mile long, are the Inga Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.) It is, rather, the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls that makes them so spectacular. All that water has also eroded the falls. Scientists estimate that the brink moves back close to six feet every year. In the last 12,000 years, the falls have moved more than seven miles! Niagara Falls is made up of three sections. The Horseshoe Falls is the largest section. It is situated in Canada. The American and the Bridal Veil Falls sections are on the U.S. side. The first recorded description of Niagara Falls was made in the 17th century by an explorer named Father Louis Hennepin. LEVEL 7 Atlantis (Nonfiction) Word count: 202; Lexile: 990 Have you ever heard of the lost city of Atlantis? It is one of the oldest mysteries in the world. Plato, a philosopher from ancient Greece, wrote about Atlantis, and since then people have debated its existence. Although there have been many expeditions to locate the lost city, none have been successful. Atlantis was said to be a large island in the middle of the world’s oceans, with fertile lands and canals. Poseidon, the god of the sea, had a temple at the island’s capital where the kings (Poseidon’s sons) discussed important issues. The island also had beautiful palaces and a citadel. The people of Atlantis eventually became greedy and tried to invade other countries. A war was fought with Europe and Asia, but the people of Atlantis did not win as they thought they would. Zeus, the god of gods, was angry with the people of Atlantis and sent down a lightning bolt to destroy the city. The magnificent city of Atlantis disappeared into the sea and was never seen again. The story of Atlantis is said to have survived from Egyptian records that were eventually passed down to Plato through his family. Most scientists, however, don’t believe Atlantis ever existed. Not a Regular Day’s Work (Fiction) Word count: 205; Lexile: 990 Chris had been working at the garbage dump for a year now. Most of the time nothing interesting happened and it was a lonely, smelly, and mostly unpleasant work site. However, Chris had decided to make the best of it and started a hobby a few months ago. He took pictures of trucks in bizarre positions and piles of trash forming weird shapes, and then he turned them into adventure stories he later told his kids. They had set a rule by now: dump trucks had super powers fueled by recycled garbage, and Chris was the one who saved the day.


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Level 7 Continued One Friday morning, Chris agreed with his kids for the first time: he had the coolest job. Without notice, a large flock of black vultures moved in at full speed and plunged noiselessly into the huge heap of garbage. They immediately dipped their heads into the mound of rotten fruit, carcasses, and other waste. This was the first time black vultures left the lowlands by the river and came so close to humans. Chris guessed they had to be extremely hungry to have made it this far. With haste, he snapped a few pictures and relished his next story — a real one this time. The King (Nonfiction) Word count: 215; Lexile: 990 Elvis Presley is one of the most impersonated celebrities in the world — and there’s a reason that so many people want to keep his legend alive. He had a hugely influential musical style that helped redefine popular music. He was the first true rock and roll superstar. He had a great voice and strong stage presence. He also had an unusual dancing style that involved thrashing his legs and swiveling his hips to the rhythm of the music. Fans loved it, but critics and parents condemned Elvis’s act. As a result, Elvis became the ultimate symbol of rebellion in the 1950s. When he was growing up, Elvis worked part-time to help support his family. After graduation, he drove a truck for a living and played music at night. Young Elvis was influenced by country, gospel, rhythm and blues, and many other musical styles. Elvis recorded a few songs at a local studio to try and impress the owner, Sam Phillips. Elvis’s first attempts failed, but the young singer wouldn’t give up. Eventually, his version of a country song called “That’s All Right” made Phillips realize Elvis had talent. The song became so popular that a local radio station played it more than a dozen times in a row — the rest, as they say, is history! The Spotted Hyena (Nonfiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 990 Spotted hyenas may look like dogs, but be warned, the last thing you should ever do is try to take one for a walk. Weighing in at 110 to 176 pounds, the spotted hyena, also known as a laughing hyena because of its shrill giggle-like call, is one of the world’s deadliest predators. It will eat anything that moves. Its jaw is extremely strong; so strong that it can reach a bite pressure of 800 pounds per square inch. And it is not just a strong jaw that makes the spotted hyena an efficient hunter either. This hyena can run at speeds up to 16 miles per hour and can keep on going until its prey has exhausted itself and gives up. Spotted hyenas are native to Africa and live south of the Sahara desert. They call woodlands, grasslands, mountains, sub-deserts, and plains home. They live in clans of between 20 and 80. In this society, the females are boss. They are bigger and stronger, and they rule the males. Although they share their territory with bigger mammals, like lions, they are more than skilled at defending themselves. In fact, they are so brazen that they will often steal carcasses from larger, stronger animals.


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Level 7 Continued Academy Awards (Nonfiction) Word count: 196; Lexile: 1000 On May 16, 1929, movie actors, directors, and producers gathered at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to celebrate the first Academy Awards ceremony. The ceremony took place at a private dinner, with around 250 people in attendance. Since then, the Academy Awards, or Oscars as they are often called, have become the biggest night of the year for celebrities. The Academy Awards are presented every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It honors actors, directors, and writers — among others. At first, the ceremony was broadcast on radio. By 1953, audiences were able to watch the event on their television sets. As of 2015, Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King hold the record for the most awards won by a single movie. Each won 11 statuettes. Only three films have won the Oscar for each of the main categories — best picture, director, actor, actress, and writing. They are It Happened One Night, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and The Silence of the Lambs. Actors of all ages have won or been nominated for an Academy Award, ranging from a six-year-old girl to an 85-year-old woman. Vampire Bats (Nonfiction) Word count: 191; Lexile: 1010

Bats are unique for a number of reasons, one being that they are the only mammal that can fly. Vampire bats are distinctive for a more sinister reason: They are the only mammal that feeds on nothing but blood!

Vampire bats live in Mexico, Central America, and South America. They have wingspans of about eight inches and can double their average weight of two ounces in one feeding.

Although vampire bats can live on their own or in small groups, they usually live in colonies of about 100. A colony of bats can drink the blood of 25 cows over the course of one year. Because of their all-liquid diet, vampire bats don’t have many teeth. However, the ones they do have are razor sharp — so sharp that sleeping animals don’t usually wake up while the bats feed on them.

Vampire bats are nocturnal, which means that they operate under cover of darkness. Their usual victims are sleeping farm animals, but beware; they sometimes feed on humans too. They don’t drink enough blood to harm their victims, but they do carry diseases and bacteria that can cause infections and spread rabies.


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LEVEL 8

Trapdoor (Fiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 1030

As her fingertips tripped lightly across the surface of the centuries-old stone, she held her breath. She listened intently for something to click, or move. If she could open the trapdoor her quest would finally be over. She sucked in her stomach and held her muscles taut. She tried with all her might to prevent even the tiniest hair on her head from dancing in the dank air that swirled from every corner of the abandoned castle’s musty rooms.

The map that had led her here was discolored and poorly drawn. She could still remember the day it had landed innocently at her feet after falling from the pages of an ancient text. Something had drawn her to the emerald-green book perched high on the top shelf, still bright under layers of dust. She had tentatively picked up the map and eased back its precise, painstakingly made folds. Once she had laid eyes on the drawing, gossamer-thin with tattered edges, she could think of nothing else. Now here she was. Just a few meters of stone stood between her and the mesmerizing X. As her searching fingers finally felt a stone panel shudder, she gasped for air under the grip of a cold, menacing hand.

The Fox and the Goat (Fiction) Word count: 213; Lexile: 1040

A Fox had fallen into a well and was unable to get out. As he sat there cursing his horrible luck, a Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the well in search of something to drink. Seeing the Fox at the bottom of the well, the Goat shouted down to him: “Is the water any good?”

The Fox sounded deceptively cheerful as he told the Goat that the water was excellent and encouraged the Goat to descend. The thirsty Goat thoughtlessly scampered down and started to drink greedily. The Fox then informed him of the difficult situation they were in, but said he had a scheme to help them both escape. He told the Goat to put his forefeet on the wall and bend his head so that the Fox could run up his back and jump out of the well. The Fox assured the Goat that he would then help him get out of the well. The Goat agreed and braced himself — the Fox ran up his back, jumped out of the well, and ran away as fast as he could.

As the furious Goat scolded the Fox for deceiving him, the Fox looked back over his shoulder and said, “You foolish fellow! Maybe next time you will look before you leap!”

Yucky Universe (Nonfiction) Word count: 197; Lexile: 1040 Bacteria are tiny living things that can be found just about anywhere — soil, air, water, animals, food, and even people. They are so small that if you put 10,000 of them in a row, they would only measure about one inch. Although bacteria can make us sick by causing all kinds of health problems, they aren’t all bad. Some bacteria can be used to make medicine, vaccines, and even yogurt.


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Level 8 Continued Have you ever wondered where toe jam comes from? Toe jam forms when your skin sheds dead cells that mix with the hot sweat and other bacteria from your feet, which eventually mixes together with the fabrics that break down in your socks. You might want to leave this kind of jam off of your toast! If you’ve never thought long and hard about your earwax, you really should — it’s very interesting. Earwax, which is made up of fatty acids and enzymes, does everything from keeping away bugs and dirt to heating the air as it enters your ear. While it might seem gross, it helps keep bacteria from growing in your ear. The bacteria actually get stuck in the sticky substance! How’s that for disgusting? Case Closed (Fiction) Word count: 207; Lexile: 1060 The police officer at the primary crime scene knew that his duty was to fence off the area with yellow tape immediately. He was aware that any contamination would result in loss of crucial evidence. Science and legal professionals had to work together to be able to solve a crime.

If he failed to follow strict procedures, he would get into serious trouble — and of course he knew he most certainly would. However, he had no choice. He picked up all physical evidence from the scene, wiped all possible traces of fingerprints, and collected the three bullet fragments that could tie him to the crime. It was very hard to remove the hairs and fibers from his uniform but he could surely explain this at the police station when summoned to give his report. After all, he had been the first responder and had tried to resuscitate the victim — at least this is what he was planning to write on his statement. There had been no eyewitnesses to the crime because he had planned it all very carefully. There had been no loops, no mistakes, no regrets. Now everything was ready and he just had to make the call — a call he had rehearsed so many times.

Payback (Fiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 1060 By the time the police arrived, the robbers had long fled the scene. They had clearly done their homework; otherwise, the heist wouldn’t have gone down so smoothly. They didn’t even say one word to one another in the two minutes that they were inside the bank. The bank’s workers barely had enough time to register what was happening before the seven masked men were gone again, disappearing into the night.

“They must’ve spent months casing this place,” muttered a police constable on scene. In fact, the gang had spent two months and two weeks watching the bank building at night, taking notes on exactly when cash shipments came in, how many workers were usually there to tally the cash, and how much time typically elapsed before the shipments were locked away in the underground vault. The gang probably knew the bank better than the bank’s own workers.


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Level 8 Continued What the gang didn’t know, however, was that they had a mole in their midst. Instead of taking them to their hideout, their getaway driver — an undercover officer — drove the gang directly to the nearest police station. Before they knew it, they were paying back every dollar they had taken. So much for getting rich quick.

The Great Space Race (Nonfiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 1070 In th e 1960s, the United States and the former Soviet Union competed against each other in what was known as the great space race. Both wanted to prove that it alone was the most powerful nation in the world with the best technology and scientists. At first, the Russians seemed to be winning. They launched the first satellite to orbit Earth. They even sent a human being into space. So, in 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy declared the country’s next priority should be to complete a successful moon mission. He said, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.” On July 16, 1969, hundreds of millions of Americans watched Apollo 11 blast off. Six and a half hours after landing on the lunar surface, American astronaut Neil Armstrong descended from the Lunar Module. He stood firmly and said, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” The journey to the moon and back captured the hearts of Americans. It continues to be a great source of pride and inspiration today. Looking Back (Fiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 1070 Without looking back, her hair blowing uncontrollably in the autumn wind, she marches forward, determined to forget.

“Back” is where the past resides, where memories collude to entice her back to happiness, and where she is taunted with echoes of laughter. She is painfully aware that it wasn’t always this way because when she accidentally lets herself remember and before the pain takes her breath away, she can almost experience joy. But that was “before,” and “before” is the only place where happiness belongs.

But, “before” is not that easy to dismiss because it always intrudes when she lets her guard down; when she stops wondering for even five seconds if there was something she could have done. Something to prevent what every well-intentioned person in town keeps assuring her was not her fault.

And then, the sun shines through the leaves, and she marvels at dust particles shimmering like diamonds. And then, she forgets to think of food as anything but necessary and glories in the crisp fall essence of a McIntosh. And then, a majestic blue heron thwarts all laws of physics and her breath catches. And then, she turns and looks back and “before” is within reach.


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Level 8 Continued Mesa Verde (Nonfiction) Word count: 199; Lexile: 1070

In late December 1888, two Americans — Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason — accidentally stumbled upon the lost city of Mesa Verde. Mesa Verde is a village below a cliff in Colorado, which was home to people from about 550 CE to 1300. Wetherill and Mason were on horseback when they came to a canyon. They peered inside to find what Wetherill called “a magnificent city.”

Since then, 600 separate ruins have been discovered in the area. These range from small houses to large, multiple-story buildings, with almost 200 rooms. The buildings were made of many different materials, including sandstone, wood, and soil. Over the years, some artifacts have been stolen from Mesa Verde and buildings have been vandalized. Because of this, President Theodore Roosevelt declared Mesa Verde a national park in 1906. Later, in 1978, it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means that the site is of historical importance and must be preserved. Not much is known about the lives of the people who called Mesa Verde home. Even less is known about why they abandoned the village around 1300, though some researchers speculate that poor weather conditions and a lack of natural resources were the cause.

Taj Mahal (Nonfiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 1070

What makes the biggest impression on visitors to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India? For some, it is the area’s perfectly manicured grounds and pristine reflecting pools. Others are entranced by the majestic, completely symmetrical structure itself. They are captivated by this white marble tomb, which is said to change color with the rising and setting sun. However, for many people it is the story behind the building of this monument that holds the real fascination.

Built between 1631 and 1648, the Taj Mahal is an enduring symbol of true love. The monument was built by Shah Jahan. He ruled the Mughal Empire, an area that covered much of present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, from 1628 until 1658. In 1631, Emperor Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth. After her death, the emperor vowed to build a grand monument — one that would honor his wife’s memory and also symbolize his great love for her. Precious stones from across the Mughal Empire, including emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires, were used in the construction. The interior of the mausoleum was decorated with ornate carvings, paintings, and calligraphy.

The Taj Mahal has endured as a symbol of love and architectural achievement for more than three centuries.


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LEVEL 9 Arachne (Fiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 1080

Athena was a beautiful goddess who was also the best weaver in all of Ancient Greece. She turned dull wool into beautiful, vibrant fabrics — and she taught her students to do the same.

Her greatest student was a poor girl, named Arachne, who wove stunning fabrics. Arachne’s talent was so obvious that everyone assumed that Athena was her teacher. For most, this would be a compliment, but not for conceited Arachne. Arachne was extremely boastful, telling others that she could not be Athena’s student, because she was far more talented. It wasn’t long before Athena heard of her student’s boasting and approached the unsuspecting Arachne in disguise. Arachne unknowingly told Athena that she was talented enough to win in a weaving competition.

Athena’s disguise fell to the floor, and she stood before Arachne and accepted the challenge. Each woman wove beautiful fabric that was vibrant in color — but Arachne was slower and showed less skill, making Athena the obvious winner. Athena demanded an apology, but Arachne refused, causing Athena to strike her. Arachne began shrinking and her limbs multiplied as her fingers became long, spindly legs. Athena had turned her vain pupil into a spider, condemning her to weave a web forever.

Home (Fiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 1080

“I have my own home now,” Abby had responded. “Why should I go with you?” Her father had taken one look at the disarray that was her apartment and had promptly exploded. That she would deign to stay in this squalor had been beyond him from the very beginning. But that she would be so stubborn as to refusing to leave now that he was formally offering to welcome her back was unconscionable, an absolute affront to everything her family had done for her in the past.

Abby dashed onto the street, ignoring the sound of the screeching tires and angry car honks to her right, and kept running until she made it across all four lanes of traffic. The conversation she had just had with her father was still repeating itself in her mind; she could hardly think about anything else besides getting as far away from where he was as possible.

Her father had shown up unexpectedly at her apartment tonight; she hadn’t seen or heard from him in four months and yet suddenly there he was, standing there in her doorway. He had driven 217 miles to find her so that he could tell her, in person, that he wanted her to come home.


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Level 9 Continued Strange and Mysterious (Nonfiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 1080

Have you ever seen or heard something that you could not explain, no matter how hard you tried? The world is full of unexplainable mysteries and strange circumstances. It’s only natural to be curious about them and want to figure out what they’re all about.

For example, have you ever heard of spontaneous human combustion? Documents as far back as the 1800s tell stories of people catching on fire and turning into a pile of ashes for no apparent reason — and no one knows exactly how!

If that’s not mysterious enough, check out the story of the Mothman. Rumor has it that this human--sized creature with huge, glowing red eyes appeared to many people in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, before a major disaster struck — the collapse of the Silver Bridge. After this horrible accident, the Mothman was not seen again.

What about the treasures of the Lost Dutchman Mine? Hundreds of treasure--seekers have died, disappeared, or simply gone mad trying to find the gold the Apache peoples guarded for the Thunder God who was said to live there. From Bigfoot to crop circles, and the Bermuda Triangle to UFOs, there is still so much to baffle even the sternest skeptics.

Fashion Files (Nonfiction) Word count: 191; Lexile: 1110

Fashion-conscious shoppers who always sport the latest trends keep the ever-evolving, multi-billion-dollar fashion industry alive. Whether you keep up with the trends or have been wearing the same clothes since you left elementary school, here are some of the hottest fashions to dominate the runways in the past.

Women living in the early 20th century wore corsets, horribly tight undergarments that clinched their waists. This restrictive garment gave them the hourglass figures that were desirable at the time. For the most part, corsets have been replaced with diets, exercise, girdles, and even plastic surgery.

Bell-bottoms, a popular anti-fashion statement of the 1960s, were first worn by hippies. Eventually both men and women from all over the world wore these wide-legged pants. Hints of bell-bottoms can still be seen today in boot-cut and flared pants.

Invented more 100 years ago, the first pairs of blue jeans were created as workpants for miners. Since then, jeans have been designed in all shapes and sizes to suit all personalities. Although they’ve changed a lot since they were first created, blue jeans today are worn by just about everyone, from infants to seniors.


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Level 9 Continued The Great Drought (Fiction)

Word count: 198; Lexile: 1120 The last of the wells in town dried up two weeks ago. Spring came and went with nary a drop of rain to refill the underground reservoirs; there was even a stretch of time, three and a half weeks if you were keeping count, during which there was barely a cloud in the skies. And now that summer is fast approaching, bringing with it the dreaded promise of even hotter, drier conditions, the townspeople are becoming increasingly distressed and desperate for relief from above; the ground beneath their weathered feet has become so starved for water that it’s beginning to crack in the driest places; the seeds that they planted haven’t taken and have simply blown away with the wind, into oblivion. The situation is looking very dire.

An unfortunate few are showing signs of disorientation and delirium from the extreme dehydration — so delusional from thirst that they would gladly drink ocean water if you let them. Others lie listless on their beds all day, unable to summon the strength to face another day under the withering sun. “What’s the use?”

The town is deteriorating from this long, vicious dry spell. And there is no end in sight.

Nightmare (Fiction)

Word count: 200; Lexile: 1120

Even while he was having a heart attack, Ella’s husband Carlos had been able to keep a stiff upper lip. The two of them had been driving on the busiest part of the interstate, right in a section where about 18 lanes converged, when she felt the car start to shimmy. It didn’t really register, though, because she was planning the kind of salad she was going to make with dinner. In fact, Ella was right in the midst of a heated mental debate — dried cranberries or candied walnuts? — when she heard the engine lose power. Her husband had put the car into neutral and was trying to maneuver it to the side of the road. On his face she saw a contorted mask of excruciating agony and she instantly knew why. Carlos wasn’t a young man, and he hadn’t been a follower of the daily eight glasses of water, 30 minutes of cardio, and five servings of fruits and vegetables kind of lifestyle.

Despite her mental obfuscation, she could hear honking coming from somewhere. As the car veered erratically toward the shoulder, a pickup hit their rear bumper sending them careening into the guardrail. Suddenly everything was eerily silent.


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LEVEL 10 Who’s There? (Fiction) Word count: 200; Lexile: 1130 Not one person knew the real reason for the event. Not the people milling about in throngs. Not their cherry- cheeked toddlers wearing kaleidoscope colored mittens sticky with apple juice and drool. She didn’t know either. So far, strolling along cobblestone streets, cocoa in hand, she had enjoyed the night. But then she saw a being, so otherworldly that it couldn’t have been a costumed child, skirt around the edge of a building and take refuge behind the abandoned shopping cart of a lost soul.

Compelled to follow, she left everything behind in an ill-advised attempt to satisfy her curiosity. Moving quickly, down past a warehouse, down a tenebrous alley that forced her, instinctively, to analyze her own sanity, she suddenly felt disoriented. Searing heat was slowly spreading from the crown of her head, under her eyelids, and out of her mouth. Had it not been for the fact that it was a frigid October night filled with the sound of rustling leaves warning of winter, her sudden spike in body temperature wouldn’t have seemed so disquieting. Spellbound by terror, though, she realized that the phosphorescent, palpitating, piercing eyes at the far end of the alley must be to blame.

Healing Hands (Fiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 1140

Sara took a deep breath as the first stitch went in. She hadn’t meant to look, but she really couldn’t help doing so, her curiosity getting the better of her as her eyes darted to her right arm to watch her doctor slowly begin to close up her wound. Another stitch went in. Sara marveled at the strange and disorienting disconnection between what she was seeing and what she was feeling — besides a ticklish tugging at the skin that came from her doctor pulling the stitches together, she felt no pain whatsoever.

Sara kept perfectly still, waiting for her breathing to settle back into a slow and steady rhythm. There was absolutely nothing to be anxious about, she silently told herself, especially since she knew she was in good hands. Sara’s doctor maintained a controlled and unhurried pace, and his movements were reassuringly casual, as if he were merely sewing fabric together.

Sara willed herself to look away and finally did, her eyes setting on the giant clock hanging on the opposite wall. The intermittent ticking of the second hand made the only noticeable noise in the quiet room; it was comforting and unnerving at the same time.


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Shipwrecked (Fiction) Word count: 204; Lexile: 1140 “There’s no way you’re venturing there on your own,” shouted Emma at the top of her lungs. “I’m coming with you,” she added reluctantly. She barely made it to the bobbing sailboat, as the howling wind pushed her from side to side and silenced her last words.

Jim had been missing for at least five hours and there was no sign of him whatsoever. Radio contact had been virtually impossible due to the intensity of the wind, which at times reached a peak of 100 miles per hour. Going into the sea was tantamount to suicide at this point, but there was no way Emma was letting Parker do this on his own. No heroic feat on her mind, but she was the one with navigational expertise. She was the one who had lived most of her life on a sailing boat and had many times navigated through the roughest waters ever. Ironically, though, she was the one who hated the sea the most. She had not set foot on any kind of floating craft ever since the accident, so it was almost impossible to explain how she had managed to pluck up her courage and take control of the helm without the slightest hesitation.

The Iron Lady (Nonfiction) Word count: 198; Lexile: 1140

Margaret Thatcher became prime minister of Britain in 1979. She was the first woman ever to hold the office. Thatcher was a determined and strong-willed leader who managed the challenges of the job with superior political skills. She was known for being tough and outspoken — and many people admired her for it.

The “Iron Lady,” as Thatcher was called by fans and critics alike, served as prime minister for three successive terms. This was longer than any other British prime minister in the 1900s. Thatcher once said, “If you lead a country like Britain, a strong country, a country which has taken a lead in world affairs in good times and in bad, a country that is always reliable, then you have to have a touch of iron about you.” She believed that no one ever got to the top without hard work. She was thought to have typically slept only four hours a night during her tenure.

Thatcher stepped down as prime minister in 1990. Today, historians say that she was one of the world’s most influential and respected political leaders in the 20th century, as well as one of the most dynamic and controversial.


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Home Sweet Home (Fiction) Word count: 203; Lexile: 1150

Some might say Ann was spoiled. She didn’t want her mother and father to sell their gigantic Tudor-style home — complete with tennis courts and a pool — and move to a farmhouse on the outskirts of town. Her parents were a little reluctant to leave their grand home, but they were also excited about starting a new chapter in their lives. Ann’s father had decided to take early retirement from his incredibly stressful and demanding job as a tort lawyer to start an alpaca farm. He was always raving about the fleece produced by these llama-like creatures: “It’s softer, warmer, and stronger than sheep’s wool — but best of all, it’s hypoallergenic!”

Ann's spirits sank. Bitsy, their always effervescent real-estate agent, was leading them along the pathway to the latest dilapidated domicile.

“Well, there’s definitely lots of room for your little beasts to roam,” Bitsy said, waving a bejeweled hand in the air. Ann could tell that — like most people — Bitsy did not take her father’s lawyer-turned-alpaca farmer fantasy seriously. When Bitsy finally opened the front door, they were confronted with a smell that was beyond revolting. Ann saw the disgust flash across Bitsy’s face before the agent cheerily said, “Would you believe this place has Wi-Fi?”

Eureka! (Nonfiction) Word count: 199; Lexile: 1170

If something is serendipitous, it’s a lucky happening, or come up on by accident, which is how many scientists in laboratories create “accidental” inventions. These fortunate accidents have changed our lives and the world around us by affecting industries and businesses, improving our way of life, and helping us cure diseases and thus live longer.

If you’ve ever heated up a meal in a microwave oven, you’ve experienced the benefits of an accident turned invention. One day in 1946, scientist Percy Spencer was in a magnetron lab when the candy bar in his pocket melted, giving him a brilliant idea. Magnetrons could be used for more than radar — they could cook food!

Not long ago, a tiny scratch could kill a person. Now we have penicillin, an antibiotic used to control the spread of infection and disease. It might seem simple, but it saves lives. Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by examining some mold that had formed in a petri dish he had accidently left out, and the rest is history!

From dynamite to safety glass, and even chocolate chip cookies, accidents have been known to have some remarkable consequences. Remember — an accident can be an opportunity in disguise!


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Teacher’s Reference Guide – Level 5 to 10 Words LEVEL 5 (57 words) Colossal Coaster

• Enough: when something is equal to what is needed. • Glimpse: to look at or see something or someone for a very short time. • Official: authorized or issued by someone in authority. • Colossal: very large or enormous. • Turnstile: a gate at an entrance or exit that has arms that turn around and allows only one

person at a time to pass through. • Familiar: something or someone is easy for you to recognize. • Realized: understand or become aware of something.

Medieval Legend

• Astounded: greatly shocked or surprised. • Heir: a person who inherits possessions or a title. • Legendary: fictitious (not true), but very well known. • Literature: written matter that can either be fiction or Nonfiction. • Conquests: a person’s victories. • Glorious: to be adored and idolized. • Chivalry: religious, moral and social code that was first used in the medieval period. • Heroism: to be brave.

The Butterfly: A Chinese Tale

• Appreciate: admire deeply, to recognize the significance and quality, to be grateful/ thankful towards a person, place or thing.

• Beauty: a quality in a person, place or thing that looks pretty and makes us feel happy. • Relaxed: to be free from any tension or stress. • Startled: to be caught by surprise or to be alarmed by someone or something. • Philosopher: a person who studies truth, the meaning of life, right and wrong, the value of

things and other topics which are not concrete. • Strange: something is unusual or out of the ordinary.

Breaking the News

• Urgently: attend to something immediately because it is important. • Confidently: comes from the word “confidence” which means having a feeling that you can do

something well. • Positive: to be sure that you are correct or it can mean something good. • Dismay: to break down a person's courage or the feeling of discouragement. • Eavesdropping: to listen secretly to a private conversation. • Expression: to indicate a feeling, or a thought.


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The Longest 15 Minutes

• Interrupted: stop someone or something in the middle of doing or saying something. • Approaching: to come near or closer. • Seriously: acting or speaking sincerely and honestly rather than in a joking manner. • Pipsqueak: small and not important. • Daydream: a dream or fantasy that happens while you are awake. • X-rays: a form of electromagnetic radiation. They allow you to see through something.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• Ordinary: normal or the usual. • Fabulous: amazing or awesome. • Scrambling: moving quickly or rushing to get something done. • Luxuries: things that generally cost a lot of money and are bought for comfort and pleasure. • Slim: to have a very small chance or to be slender. • Accompanied: to go along with someone or to join them.

Paused

• Nimbly: comes from the word nimble, which means that you are able to move quickly and easily.

• Tentative: a feeling of being uncertain, unsure or hesitant. • Dim: When something is dim it is unclear or not very bright. • Pesky: to be very annoying or troublesome. • Inched: to move slowly and with small steps. • Waded: slowly walked through something like water, snow, or sand.

The Underdogs

• Opportunities: being in a good position or chance to do something or attain a goal. • Eventually: after some time or in the end. • Frustrated: very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete

something. • Reminded: to make someone think about something again or to remember something. • Focused: giving attention and effort to a specific task or goal. • Bragged: to talk about yourself in a way that shows too much pride or arrogance. • Halftime: the intermission or break between halves of a game.


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Goliath Frogs

• Endangered: an animal species is close to dying out. There are very few numbers of the species left alive.

• Uncertain: unsure or not confident about something. • Extinct: no longer living or has completely died out. • Habitat: natural environment or home of a plant or animal. • Lifespan: length of time a person or animal lives or a thing functions.

LEVEL 6 (72 words)

Oscar

• Absolutely: when something is definite, complete or absolute. • Phrase: a brief or short expression that is commonly used. • Grouchy: when someone complains a lot or is ill tempered, they are grouchy. • Patch: a small spot or area that is different from the rest of the surroundings. • Business: a matter, an event or a situation. • Watching: to look at something and pay attention to what is happening. • Guessed: to predict something or to make an assumption about someone or something.

Fossil Clues

• Scientist: person who is studying or has expert knowledge of the natural or physical sciences. • Fossil: remains or impression of an organism of a former geological age. • Preserved: maintain something in its original or existing state. • Discovered: find something unexpectedly or when searching. • Attached: joined or fastened to something. • Modern: from the present or recent times.

Stage Stumble

• Practiced: learned by doing it again and again. • Reporter: a person who writes news stories for a newspaper or who tells people the news on the

radio or on television. • Dreaming: experiencing thoughts, emotions and seeing images while you are sleeping. It can

also mean to think of something that you have wanted to do, be or have for a long time. • Decided: made a decision that is certain and free of doubt. • Agreed: to say that you will do, accept, or allow something that is suggested or requested by

another person; to give consent. • Segment: part of something that is naturally divided. • Noticed: means to pay attention to or become aware of something. • Bark: to speak to someone in a loud and usually angry or harsh tone; to snap at someone.


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Zoo Day

• Hoisted: to be lifted up. • Complaining: object to something and state your objection. • Energetic: full of life. • Gawking: stare at something with amazement. • Dwarfed: minimize and make small. • Immense: extremely large. • Squealing: yell in a loud and high-pitched manner.

Annoying Little Brother

• Ridiculous: extremely silly or unreasonable. • Accuse: charge someone with an offence or crime. • Scolded: told off for something you did wrong. • Irritating: causes annoyance, impatience or mild anger. • Unwavering: steady and consistent. • Strategically: act with important intent. • Imminent: bound to happen soon.

Skater Girls

• Competition: a contest or event in which people try to win by being the best. • Title: first place or champion in a sporting event or other competition. • Including: something that is part of a group or for someone to be a part of a group. • Voted: make a decision by casting ballots, taking tallies, or counting hands. • Newcomer: a person who has recently arrived or has recently started a new activity. • Considered: thought about or decided upon with care. • Sponsors: organizations that give money to an athlete for training, clothing and equipment in

return for advertising

Velcro

• Stubborn: someone who refuses to change, or do something they don’t want to do. • Examine: look closely and carefully to learn more about something. • Manufacturers: companies that make products. • Struggle: try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult. • Clingy: hold or stick on something or someone very tightly. • Inspired: a positive influence on the future actions of someone.


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Rogue Waves

• Enormous: something that is much bigger than usual size. It is often used to describe things that are huge or gigantic.

• Powerful: having or using great force or power. • Existed: when something is real and not imagined or made up, it has existed. • Rogue: something or someone that can’t be trusted and is likely to cause trouble. • Overwhelmed: cover over completely with something like water. • Immense: something that is very great in size or amount. • Frequently: something that happens often or regularly. • Prove: to show the existence, truth, or correctness of something by using evidence.

Niagara Falls

• Majestic: big and grand and beautiful. • Situated: where something is located or placed. • Impressive: amazing or awesome. • Eager: to really want something. • Spectacular: awesome or majestic. • Eroded: when something is slowly worn away, it has eroded. • Brink: edge of a cliff or waterfall. • Description: picture using words.

LEVEL 7 (46 words) The King

• Impersonated: to copy the appearance and actions of someone or something. • Celebrities: people who are famous. • Legend: a famous or important person who is known for doing something extremely well. • Influential: having power or influence. • Redefine: means to re-evaluate and completely change. • Stage presence: the ability to project a sense of ease or self-assurance in front of an audience. • Thrashing: moving around in a wild, whipping way. • Swiveling: turning freely, rotating, swinging, or moving back and forth. • Condemned: called wrong, evil, or not good enough or strongly disapproved of. • Rebellion: the act of disobeying rules or fighting against authority.


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Spotted Hyenas

• Shrill: high pitched and piercing sound. • Predators: organisms/animals that survive by hunting and eating other organisms/animals. • Pressure: amount of force that is applied on a surface by something else. • Efficient: get the most amount of work done while using the least amount of time and effort. • Exhausted: to be drained of strength or energy or to be very tired. • Brazen: bold or shameless.

Not a Regular Day’s Work

• Unpleasant: displeasing, disagreeable or offensive. • Hobby: activity or interest done for pleasure or relaxation and not as an occupation. • Bizarre: strange or unusual. • Flock: group of animals, such as birds or sheep that are assembled or herded together. • Plunged: enter quickly and forcibly into something. • Mound: heap or pile of something. • Haste: quickness of motion or action. • Relished: take pleasure in something enjoy it or delight in it.

Atlantis

• Ancient: something that comes from or belongs to a time that was long ago. • Debated: had a discussion in which people expressed different opinions about something. • Existence: fact or condition of being real. • Expeditions: excursions, journeys or voyages made for a specific purpose. • Fertile: land that produces many plants or crops. • Greedy: having or showing a selfish desire to have more of something. • Invade: enter forcefully as an enemy. • Magnificent: very beautiful or impressive.

Academy Awards

• Director: person responsible for the actors and their acting during a film or television production. • Producer: responsible for the financial and business aspects of a stage, film, television, or radio

production. • Ceremony: formal activity that is done for an important public occasion. • Celebrity: a famous or well-known person. • Broadcast: transmit programs from a radio or television station. • Statuette: small statue. • Nominate: give a person’s name to a committee because you believe they are right person and they

should be chosen for an honor or position.


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Vampire Bats

• Unique: having no equal or being different from everything else. • Mammal: warm-blooded animal with fur or hair on its skin and a skeleton inside its body. • Distinctive: appealing or interesting because of an unusual quality or characteristic. • Sinister: threatening or suggesting evil, injury, or danger. • Wingspans: distance between the tips of pairs of wings when they are spread out. • Colonies: groups of animals of the same type living closely together. • Nocturnal: refers to something happening in the night. • Rabies: disease that is caused by a virus and can kill people, dogs, and other mammals.

LEVEL 8 (58 words)

Trapdoor

• Taut: tightly drawn; tense; not slack. • Ancient: very old: aged; from a remote period or time; a great age. • Perched: high or elevated position, resting place, or the like. • Tentatively: to do something as a trial, experiment, or attempt; unsure or uncertain. • Painstakingly: taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble;expending or showing diligent

care and effort; careful.

The Fox and the Goat

• Cursing: swearing at someone or something. • Overcome: cause the body or the mind to feel weak or overwhelmed. • Deceptively: to do something in a deceiving or misleading way. • Encouraged: gave courage or confidence to someone. • Descend: to move downward or to a lower position. • Scampered: ran quickly or playfully. • Scheme: plan or plot. • Forefeet: front feet of an animal that has four legs. • Braced: secured against pressure or force. • Scolded: spoke in a sharp or angry way.


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Yucky Universe

• Bacteria: microscopic organisms that often play a role in the decay of living things, the process of fermentation, and sometimes in causing disease.

• Vaccines: germs of diseases that are dead or not active. Vaccines are used to help the immune system protect against the disease.

• Shed: cast off, take off, or let fall. • Fatty acids: large classes of acids, such as palmitic, stearic, and oleic, that occur naturally in

animal and vegetable fats and oils. • Enzymes: proteins that help speed up chemical reactions that take place within living things. • Substance: a particular kind of matter or definite chemical constitution. • Disgusting: causing strong dislike.

Case Closed

• Primary: first or highest ranking of importance, or belonging to the first stage in any process. • Contamination: make something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean or

bad. • Crucial: an extremely important decision or result. If something is crucial, it’s very important. • Procedure: particular course or mode of action. • Fragments: parts broken off or detached from something. • Resuscitate: revive, especially from near-death or from unconsciousness.

Payback

• Heist: robbery or a hold up. • Casing: slang term to describe a way of examining a place such as a house or bank to help plan a

crime. • Muttered: when someone speaks in a low tone, as if to oneself. • Elapsed: describes the amount of time that has passed by. • Mole: in this story it means a spy or double agent.

• Midst: to be among us, you or them; in the midst of.

The Great Space Race

• Former: having once or previously been. • Against: in opposition to, adverse or hostile. • Known: to be recognized or acquainted with a thing, place, person, etc. • Powerful: having great power, authority, or influence. • Pride means the state or feeling of being proud or having satisfaction with one’s actions. • Inspiration: thing or person that inspires or influences. • Descended: go down or move to a lower level from a higher place.


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LEVEL 8 CONTINUED Looking Back

• Collude: conspire, to come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose. • Entice: attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage. • Essence: basic and real nature of something or its significant features or individual features. • Taunt: provoke or challenge someone with insulting remarks. • Physics: branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.

Mesa Verde

• Stumbled: discover or meet something or someone accidentally or unexpectedly. • Ruins: remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair. • Artifacts: handmade objects, such as a tools, or the remains of one, such as a shard of pottery;

characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage • Vandalized: purposefully destroy or deface public or private property. • Preserved: keep alive or in existence; make lasting (e.g., a memory, or food). • Speculate: draw conclusions, or think of possibilities, based on incomplete facts or information.

Taj Mahal

• Manicured: trim or cut something meticulously. • Pristine: in perfect condition; completely clean and fresh. • Symmetrical: has sides or halves that are the same. • Enduring: long-lasting or permanent; continuing to exist over a long time. • Ornate: elaborately or excessively decorated. • Calligraphy: artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering.

LEVEL 9 WORDS (34 words) Arachne

• Vibrant: colorful, bright and striking or full of energy. • Conceited: extremely proud of oneself; vain. • Boastful: to be talking or bragging about one’s achievements, possessions or abilities. • Vain: extremely proud of oneself; it can also mean useless or without results. • Condemn: sentence someone to a punishment; to express complete disapproval of someone.

Home

• Disarray: state of disorganization or untidiness; to throw something, or someone, into a state of disorganization.

• Squalor: extremely dirty and unpleasant. • Deign: do something that one considers to be beneath them as they are too important. • Affront: do or say something that shows a lack of respect for someone or someone’s feelings. • Unconscionable: not right or reasonable; not guided by conscience or justice.


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LEVEL 9 CONTINUED

Strange and Mysterious

• Circumstance: events or facts that cause something to happen, usually undesirable. • Spontaneous: occur suddenly without any previous thought or plan. • Combustion: process of burning something. • Baffle: totally bewilder or perplex. • Skeptic: someone who questions or doubts most accepted opinions.

Fashion Files

• Evolving: changing slowly into a better or more complex state. • Corset: woman’s tightly fitting undergarment designed to make her body appear more shapely • Clinch: fasten or to secure. • Restrictive: put limitations on someone’s activities or freedoms. • Anti-: a prefix which means opposed to or against when put in front of another word.

The Great Drought

• Listless: lacking energy or enthusiasm. • Oblivion: unaware or unconscious of what is happening; a state of being forgotten. • Delirium: an acutely disturbed state of mind; occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders. • Withering: become dry and shriveled; intended to make someone feel mortified or humiliated. • Dire: causing or involving fear or suffering; urgent. • Deteriorating: become progressively worse.

Nightmare

• Converged: come together, applied to lines, roads, people, ideas etc. • Maneuver: move or guide skillfully. • Contorted: twisted into an unusual shape. • Excruciating: extreme and unbearable. • Obfuscate: difficulty in understanding something; to bewilder someone. • Erratically: unpredictable: not even or regular in pattern or movement. • Careen: go forward quickly without control. • Eerily: strangely or weirdly.


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LEVEL 10 WORDS (44 words)

Who’s There?

• Throng: a large, densely packed crowd of people or animals. • Refuge: a safe place away from danger or trouble. • Ill-advised: unwise, imprudent – just not a great idea. • Tenebrous: dark, gloomy and shadowy. • Disquieting: create feelings of anxiety or worry. • Palpitating: beating strongly, rapidly or irregularly; also shaking or trembling

Healing Hands

• Disorienting: lose one’s bearings or sense of direction. • Disconnection: separate one thing from another. • Anxious: feeling worried, nervous, or afraid about what may happen. • Unhurried: not happening too quickly or completing a task while being relaxed and calm. • Reassuringly: doing something in a way that makes someone feel less worried. • Merely: only as specified and nothing more or simply. • Willed: tried to make something happen by thinking about it. • Intermittent: starting and stopping or happening at intervals. • Unnerving: removing courage or determination.

Shipwrecked

• Venturing: go somewhere unknown, dangerous or that may cause a risk. • Reluctantly: feeling or showing doubt about something; not willing or eager to do something. • Virtually: almost entirely or for the most part. • Tantamount: equal to something in value, meaning or effect. • Feat: noteworthy or extraordinary act or achievement, which usually shows courage, strength

or skill. • Navigated: to guide or steer a vehicle like a boat on water or a plane through the air. • Helm: wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered. • Hesitation: delay due to uncertainty or fear.

Iron Lady

• Superior: high or higher quality. • Admired: regard someone or something with wonder, pleasure or approval. • Successive: following in order without interruption. • Reliable: being able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed; being able to rely on. • Tenure: amount of time that a person holds a job, title or office. • Influential: power to cause changes or having influence. • Dynamic: always being active, energetic and changing. • Controversial: causing much discussion, disagreement or argument.


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LEVEL 10 WORDS CONTINUED

Home Sweet Home

• Tort: wrongful act where a person causes damage or injury and can be sued for that action. • Hypo-allergenic: unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. • Effervescent: vivacious and enthusiastic. • Dilapidated: to have fallen into disrepair or ruin; run down. • Domicile: permanent residence or home. • Bejeweled: covered or adorned with jewels.

Eureka!

• Serendipitous: come upon or find by accident. • Affecting: produce an effect or change in someone or something. • Benefits: advantageous or good, or an advantage. • Remarkable: unusual, surprising and likely to be noticed. • Consequences: something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions. • Opportunity: favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place. • Disguise: outward appearance that hides what something really is.


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Motivational Guidelines for Classroom Incentives

Motivation is an intrinsic part of the BrightFish Reading instructional design. There are two categories of in-product motivational elements: positive and constructive feedback, and gamification rewards. But perhaps the most powerful source of motivation comes from teachers acknowledging the hard work their students are doing to practice and improve their reading.

Set goals for time spent in the program and use a “first past the post” system to reward students who hit the target before anyone else. Incorporate prizes and recognition for badges earned and stories mastered. Involve parents and provide rewards beyond the classroom.

Below are just a few suggestions to get you started:

Classroom rewards 1. Leave for recess a few minutes early 2. Spend time browsing (approved) websites 3. Have first choice in selecting work materials or seating assignments 4. Be first in line for a fun activity 5. Select the menu for the next pizza party

Recognition and prizes 1. Get “raffle tickets” for weekly prize drawings 2. Draw a prize from the class prize box 3. Receive a sticker on a classroom progress chart 4. Receive a "good job" note from the teacher 5. Get recognized by the principal in school announcements

Parents/home 1. Have the teacher call parents/guardians to give positive feedback 2. Have the teacher write/email a positive note to the parents/guardians 3. Get permission to call parent(s) 4. Take a class pet home overnight 5. Get a “no homework” pass

What tools are you using to motivate students? If you would like to share with the BrightFish team and other teachers using BrightFish Reading, send your ideas to [email protected]!

mailto:[email protected]

Classroom Resources: Teacher’s Reference Guide · 2017-06-29 · Classroom Resources: Teacher’s...

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Transcript of Classroom Resources: Teacher’s Reference Guide · 2017-06-29 · Classroom Resources: Teacher’s...