Saturday, August 27, 2011

'The Special Day' by Wes Fessler



Darcy had a lot of friends, and she was very friendly too. She shared each day with all her friends a happy word or two. She always had a joyful smile and pleasant things to say, but she did not seem caring on her best friend's special day.

Her best friend's name was Gina. They were close as friends could be. They always shared their birthdays. They were just like family. But this year Gina's birthday somehow slipped from Darcy's mind, and all the day at school, Darcy did not seem very kind.

She did not want to tell Darcy her birthday was that day. She thought she should remember. It had always been that way, but somehow Darcy didn't know, and as the day went by, she made her poor friend Gina feel so sad that she could cry.

At lunch, they sat together with some friends to eat their food, but Darcy seemed too busy to catch on to Gina's mood. Then after school when Darcy called, she still forgot the day! She wanted to tell Darcy, but did not know what to say.

The two hung up the phones, and just then Darcy realized it was her best friend's birthday, and she had been caught surprised. "Oh dear," she said while staring at the calendar she had. The date was clearly marked and that made Darcy feel so bad.

"I've been so selfish! Gina must think I don't even care. I have to make this better. I've been terribly unfair!" So Darcy rode her bike down to the store to get a gift.
She hoped it would not be too late to give her heart a lift.

She hurried to her house, feeling ashamed that she forgot. Though she did care for Gina, she had not shown it a lot. When Gina opened up the door, she saw her best friend there; still sweating from the bike ride, and with really messy hair.

"I'm sorry I forgot, but happy birthday," Darcy said. So pleased to see her, Gina said, "come in you silly-head!" They both enjoyed a party, and they quickly made amends. They grew yet ever closer as the very best of friends.

So Darcy learned, that just to care, was not all caring was. What matters most is showing care in what one says and does.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Lion and the Fox.



Once upon a time there was a lion that grew so old that he was unable to kill any prey for his food. So, he said to himself, I must do something to stay my stomach else I will die of starvation.

He kept thinking and thinking and at last an idea clicked him. He decided to lie down in the cave pretending to be ill and then who-so-ever will come to inquire about his health, will become his prey. The old lion put his wicked plan into practice and it started working. Many of his well-wishers got killed. But evil is short lived.

One day, a fox came to visit the ailing lion. As foxes are clever by nature, the fox stood at the mouth of the cave and looked about. His sixth sense worked and he came to know the reality. So, he called out to the lion from outside and said, How are you, sir?

The lion replied, I am not feeling well at all. But why don't you come inside?

Then the fox replied, I would love to come in, sir! But on seeing, all foot prints going to your cave and none coming out, I would be foolish enough to come in.

Saying so, the fox went to alert the other animals.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

The 'Fl' Blend

Consonant clusters or blends are two or three consonants that appear together in a word with each consonant retaining its sound when blended.

Write the blend 'Fl' set of words on individual cards. Underline the blend in every word. Explain your child about the set of two letters that needed to be spelt together or blended and help him in reading the first few words. Once he is comfortable reading individual words and recognizes the reading pattern, encourage him to read the story under your supervision.

Words for the Fl blend:

Flash, Flashlight, Flawless, Flew, Flight, Flips, Flops, Floor, Flung, Fly.

Reading for the 'Fl' blend:

I saw a fly at night.

I took my flashlight,
To catch a fly at night,
I saw it fly up high,
I saw it sit on the floor,
I flashed my flashlight,
To see if it flew anymore!
Then, I saw it take flight,
And do flawless flips and flops,
Until I flung my flashlight,
To find it lying flat on the floor.

Take care.

Click here to view the phonics program from the beginning.

Monday, August 15, 2011

The Two Goats.



Once a goat was grazing on the grassy slope of a hill near a stream. It decided to taste the grass on the hills across. A narrow log served as a bridge across the stream. While crossing the bridge, it saw another goat coming from the other side. The bridge was so narrow that only one animal could cross the bridge at a time.

The first goat said to the other, "let me pass first".

"You let me pass first" snapped the other goat.

They started threatening each other and finally got into a terrible fight, so savage, that they lost their balance and fell into the stream.

The other goats grazing on the hills saw this spectacle and learnt a lesson.

After few days, two other goats faced the same problem. They happened to be on the bridge at the same time facing each other and unable to move further.

One goat said to the other, "I will sit down and you can step over my body."

"Thank you. Next time, I'll sit down and let you cross first."

Thus, both of them were able to cross the bridge safely.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

The 'Cl' Blend.

Consonant clusters or blends are two or three consonants that appear together in a word with each consonant retaining its sound when blended.

Write the blend 'Cl' set of words on individual cards. Underline the blend in every word. Explain your child about the set of two letters that needed to be spelt together or blended and help him in reading the first few words. Once he is comfortable reading individual words and recognizes the reading pattern, encourage him to read the story under your supervision.

Words for the 'Cl' blend:-

Clad, Claim, Classy.

Clear.

Cling, Climb, Climate, Cliff.

Cloud, Clown, Closet, Clothes, Cloak, Clock.

Clue.

Reading for the 'Cl' blend.

Clingy, the Cloud.


Clingy, the little cloud, loved to climb up high.
Clingy, the cloud loved to clown in the sky.

Clingy, the cloud had clothes in his closet,
His clothes gave us clues on our doorstep.

When clad in a grey cloak, he made rains,
But when clad in white, he made a classy sight.

Clingy, the cloud claimed to clear our days,
Clingy, the cloud, changed the climate his ways.

Clingy, the cloud, followed no clocks,
Clingy, the cloud, stood tall over cliffs and rocks.

Clingy, the little cloud, loved to up climb high.
Clingy, the cloud loved to clown in the sky.

Take care.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Who will 'bell' the cat?


The mice, once called a meeting to decide on a plan, to free them of their enemy, the 'cat'. At least, they wished to find some way of knowing when the cat was coming, so they had time to run away.

Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of the cat's claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens, by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them were good enough. At last, a very young mouse got up and said, "I have a very simple plan, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell around the cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing, we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old mouse arose and said, "I will say that the plan of the young mouse is very good. But let me ask one question, who will bell the cat?"

Moral of the story: Some things are easier said, than done!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

The 'Bl' blend.

Consonant clusters or blends are two or three consonants that appear together in a word with each consonant retaining its sound when blended.

Write the blend 'Bl' set of words on individual cards. Underline the blend in every word. Explain your child about the set of two letters that needed to be spelt together or blended and help him in reading the first few words. Once he is comfortable reading individual words and recognizes the reading pattern, encourage him to read the story under your supervision.

Words for the 'Bl' blend:-

Black, Blanket, Blast, Blame.

Bleat, Blew.

Block.

Blizzard, Blink.

Blue, Blush, Bluff.

Reading for the 'Bl' blend :-


Baabaa black sheep wanted to bleat all night,
Baabaa black sheep blew his blue nose tight.

Baabaa black sheep wore a blue blanket,
Baabaa black sheep wanted to block the blizzard with might.

When Baabaa black sheep heard a big blast,
Baabaa black sheep did not blink a while.

When Baabaa black sheep saw a blocked road,
Baabaa black sheep blamed the black smoke.

Baabaa black sheep loved to bluff,
Baabaa black sheep liked to blush.

Baabaa black sheep wanted to bleat all night,
Baabaa black sheep blew his blue nose tight.

Take care.

Click here to view the phonics program from the beginning.