Reading Rivers Lesson Plan Flow

Reading River lessons are designed to flow in this sequence. Some children will complete one or two steps in one session, others will complete only part of a step in a session. We recommend you work in Reading Rivers for a total of three hours per week. These three hours will cover phonics, spelling, reading and writing. Your child’s pace is his/her own, feel free to take your time as you flow down the Learning River.

Always begin your lessons by reviewing and re-reading your handwritten stories from your Writing Rivers Story Journal

1. Picture Letter Trace: Introduce the letter sound and shape. Trace the letter with the finger or pencil. Point out the “picture letter” image to help imbed the shape into the memory.

2. Writing With Wendy: Complete writing exercises and build words with Buddy. Think of all the new words you can make with your new letter! (You may want to pull out the Word Bank in your Writing Rivers Story Journal and see how many new words you can read. Can you think of more words than those on the list?)

3. Read with Randy: Read a new story with your new words.

4. Ride the Rapids with Lulu: Use your metronome as you practice your new sounds. (Be careful to only use sounds in the center column. You don’t make new words till the third column.) Reading Rivers shows three speeds for metronome activities. Award your student for each speed that he/she can achieve with the metronome. (pennies, stickers, stars, etc.)

5. Activites with Andy: Enjoy a fun activity with Andy Ant, or do a Rollin Down the River Review.

6. Writing Rivers Story Journal: Complete your own story and illustrations in the spaces provided. (At first it is fine for the teacher to write out the story and draw illustrations.) Eventually the child will write the story and draw the illustrations. See Appendix A for help with story lines.

7. Spelling: Select three spelling words with each lesson. Test spelling every three lessons. Use nine new words and one new sight word. Add letter and word writing practice drills to the metronome as needed.

8. Teaching Tips Boxes: These boxes will give you helpful teaching hints along the way for success!

9. Rollin’ Down the River Review: Here your child will practice the letters and sounds they just learned.