Wally the Elf Really Silly Reader #1 ATOS 2.6

Directions: The first red word = 40 words. The second red word = 50 words. The third red word = 60 words. The student reads orally. First, read the entire excerpt with the student using ScORe. Then, the student reads that day’s excerpt out loud independently. Stop at the student’s designated target level (40, 50, or 60 words). Do this 3 times, recording the time after each reading. Record daily times on a graph. (When student consistently reaches 15 seconds, move up to the next level.)

The next day: The next day, the student rereads the previous day’s story excerpt (either silently or out loud). Then, move to the next story excerpt. Then use the repeated reading technique described in the previous slide.

Day 1 Wally was mowing the lawn. He hated mowing the lawn. He called out, “Help me, help me Bob the magic helper elf!” Bob the magic helper elf appeared. “How can I help you Wally?” he said. “I hate mowing the lawn,” said Wally. “I need somebody to help me” “I’m not that kind elf,” said Bob. “I am not a worker elf. I help people.”

Day 2 Wally asked, “Well what exactly do you do Mr. helper elf.” “I help them with problems,” said Bob. “They call me up and I pop in and help them.” “What kinds of problems?” ask Wally. “What kinds of problems do you help them with?” “Oh, you know,” said Bob. “Any sort of problems. Any sort at all. I just jump right in there an help.”

Day 3 Wally asked, “Well what sorts of problems have you helped people with in the past?” Bob thought. He thought for a long time. Finally he said, “Well there was this one time, a kid called me. He couldn’t decide what to watch on TV.” “You helped him decide what to watch on TV?” asked Wally. “No, I helped him watch TV. We must have watched TV for about 3 hours.”

Day 4 Wally asked, “Have you ever done any sort of helping that actually helped people?” “What do you mean?” asked Bob. “The kind of help where there’s a problem, and after you’re done there’s not a problem.” “Oh,” said Bob, “that kind of help.” “Well, have you?” asked Wally. Bob thought for a long time. “That’s a good question Wally. “Have you ever done the kind of helping where the problem goes away?” asked Wally.

Day 5 “Have you ever done the kind of helping where the problem goes away?” asked Wally. “I read a book once,” said Bob. “It was really good.” “But that’s not helping anybody,” Wally said. “But reading is good. It helps you learn things,” said Bob. “Yes,” said Wally, “I know it does and I’m happy for you, but your reading a book doesn’t help anybody.”

Day 6 Bob asked, “What if I was reading a book about helping people. Would that count as helping?” “No,” said Wally. “To help people you actually have to do something.” “Reading is doing something,” said Bob. “You have to actually do something that helps another person,” said Wally. “Oh,” said Bob. “I see. That sounds kind of hard.” “It is hard,” said Wally. “But what good is a magical helper elf that doesn’t ever help anybody?

Day 7 “My mom likes me,” said Bob. “That must count for something.” “But that doesn’t help anybody!” Wally yelled. “To help you actually have to make something better!” “Oh,” said Bob. “I see. I once made a sandwich. It didn’t taste very good so I put more butter on it and made it better. Is that helping?” “You’re on the right track, but what have you done to make somebody else feel better? Think of your mom. Have you ever helped her?” asked Wally.

Day 8 “Well, she tells me to do things. I guess that helps her.” said Bob. “She has a hard time carrying the groceries. That’s it! I help her carry groceries! “Good, good Bob, that’s the perfect,” said Wally. “Yes,” said Bob. So that’s what Bob did. He started helping people whenever he could. He never say Wally the Elf every again.

END RSR #1