Why is phonics important to learn? The English language seems like it is full of a lot of crazy pronunciations and spelling. While a small amount of English must be rote learned due to exceptions from rules, much of it can be decoded using phonics. When you know phonics, you are like a detective following clues to solve a mystery. In this series, we use only words that your little reader will be able to break down into standard phonemes. This will build reading confidence while strengthening their phonics foundation.
Is this the right level for my little reader? If your reader can decode about 90% of the words in this book independently, this will be an appropriate platform to begin their study of phonics. By understanding a majority of the words, a reader can use context to decode new terms. If a reader breezes through, you might need to take them up another level. If this level is still a bit too tricky for them, get your reader to try some of the earlier levels first. Challenges can be good, but too much too quickly could overwhelm your reader. Take things slow and steady. Enjoy the books and the journey together!
How can I be a good learning buddy for my reader? If you are helping somebody to read this book, there are plenty of ways that you can go about it. Do the initial exercises together before you begin to read so that you have both experienced the isolated sounds and discussed them. If the reader gets stuck, cover up all but the first phoneme in the word so that the sound can be isolated again. Slowly move along and reveal more phonemes. Once they can say each individual part of the word, you can focus on blending. Say the words so that they can hear them, and get them to repeat it out aloud several times. To consolidate knowledge after you finish a page, talk about what happened and what is in the picture. Then, try saying some of the words on the page and see if the reader can identify them. Get the reader doing this as well, saying words which you need to find. Above all, you should be patient. Create a safe place to make mistakes so that the reader is willing to give things a go.
Special Words This book has some special words that you should take your reader through before you begin. Many special words are those that we use in day-to-day conversation. Unfortunately, a lot of their phonetic structures do not conform to rules that your reader has learned. These words can be frustrating and confusing, but they are also a part of natural reading, writing, and conversation.
Ranger, families, finds, the, watches, who
Say each word to your reader a few times so that they can get used to its sound. Get them to repeat it back to you. Afterwards, see if your reader can think of any words that rhyme with this sound in order to help lock in how to pronounce it. Finally, think of some basic sentences that use this word. For example, if the word is ‘the’ you can create basic sentences with a subject, verb, and object: "The hat is on the table."
Ranger Forester looks after a forest. He knows all animals in this forest. If an animal is missing or hurt, Ranger Forester knows. Forester keeps animal families safe.
Ranger Forester is walking. Forester can see bugs. Bugs are good for forests. It means that a forest is balanced. Ranger Forester sees bees. These bees will not sting.
Ranger Forester is walking. Forester can hear birdsong. Forester knows which bird it is by its song. Forester finds a feather. Forester knows a bird by its feathers.
Ranger Forester sees a snake. Forester is not scared. Forester will watch the snake as it sits on a rock in sun. This snake is sleepy. It will not bite. Still, Forester knows to stay away.
Ranger Forester can see spiders in webs. These spiders are eating. Spiders get insects in webs. Spiders spin silk sacs. Insects turn to drink. Forester watches spiders fix webs that bugs broke.
Ranger Forester sees a kangaroo family. A little kangaroo is missing. Where is the little kangaroo? Ranger Forester will look for it. Forester looks in scrub. Forester sees tracks.
The little kangaroo is stuck. Its tail is in a trap. Forester is upset. He frees the kangaroo. Forester checks its tail. It is not bad. This little kangaroo will heal. It bounces away. It finds its family.
Forester keeps the trap. He will find who laid it. Forester brings the trap along to a meeting. The rangers are all upset.
The rangers find who laid the traps and they get cops.
The animals are safe again.
