Workshop, Grades K-1
Reading a Pre-Decodable Book
or Pre-Decodable Story
- First, introduce the new, high-frequency words, and review the words students learned in previous lessons.
- Give each student a copy of the book.
- Next, read the book's title aloud, pointing to each word as you read. Whenever you read aloud to your students, move your hand along the text, beneath each word, as you read. This will help your students follow along in the text with you.
- Read the names of the author and illustrator, pointing to each
word.
- - Remind students that an author writes books and an illustrator draws pictures.
- - As time goes on, encourage students to explain what the author and illustrator do.
- Point to and name each rebus picture. Then, have your students repeat the name of each rebus. Pause your hand beneath each rebus as you say the word it represents aloud. Point first to the rebus, then to the word beneath it.
- Have students browse through the book, commenting on the story and illustrations and making predictions about the story.
- Read the book without stopping.
- - Remember to move your hand along the text, beneath each word, to mark your progress as you read.
- Have the students reread the book.
- - Ask students to point to and read aloud the high-frequency words.
- Read the book a third time.
- - This time, read the title aloud, and then have the students read it with you.
- - Read the first page of the story.
- - Point to the rebus, and ask a volunteer to "read" it.
- - Point to the word beneath the rebus, and remind students that the picture shows what the word is.
- - Continue using this method through the remainder of the book.
- When you've finished reading, answer any questions the students might have about the story. During Workshop, have students reread the book with partners.
