Reading Topics

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Summer Reading List


Mr.Taylor's Summer Reading List 4th Grade.
Escape into magical lands and amazing adventures this summer. 

The Firework-Maker's DaughterFirework-Maker's Daughter [Paperback]
Publisher: Corgi Childrens (November 4, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780440866404
ISBN-13: 978-0440866404
ASIN: 0440866405




My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)

My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)
Publisher: Puffin Books (April 12, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780142401118
ISBN-13: 978-0142401118

The Phantom Tollbooth


The Phantom Tollbooth [Paperback]
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780394820378
ISBN-13: 978-0394820378
ASIN: 0394820371

Howl's Moving Castle




Howl's Moving Castle [Paperback]
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (April 22, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061478784
ISBN-13: 978-0061478789

A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)


A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) [Paperback]
Publisher: Spectra (September 28, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780553383041
ISBN-13: 978-0553383041
ASIN: 0553383043

The Cay


The Cay [Mass Market Paperback]
Publisher: Laurel Leaf (April 8, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780440229124
ISBN-13: 978-0440229124

George's Marvelous Medicine



George's Marvelous Medicine, by Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin (August 16, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780142410356
ISBN-13: 978-0142410356

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)



The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)
Publisher: HarperCollins (August 25, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006075589X
ISBN-13: 978-0064407663
ASIN: 0064407667


More to come!
Looking for students summer reading picks. 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Best iPad Reading Apps For Toddlers, Kinders, and Preschoolers

Best iPad Apps For Kids, Toddlers, Kinders, Preschoolers, and  Newborns. The iPad is a great learning tool for parents and teachers that will change the way kids learn. 


1. 123 Color: Talking Coloring Book (English, Spanish, French, and German Voice-Overs Included)
http://itunes.apple.com


2.  The Cat In The Hat Dr Seuss iPad App 
The Dr. Seuss classic "The Cat in the Hat," one of the top selling children's books of all time, is now available for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

3. Actionboox Mika´s Adventure for the iPad
Be spellbound as you enter a magical new world and experience Mika's story come vividly to life at your fingertips. Compelling animations, sound effects and interactive challenges combine to create a truly immersive reading experience in this outstanding new app.
"A dream is about to come true for Mika: For the first time in his life, he sets out to accompany his granny on one of her expeditions. On the day of their first joint exploration, the two have discovered a forest no one knew about to date. They anchor their airship-- the Albatross -- in the top branches of the highest trees and make their slow descent into the emerald green thick brush."
And just as Mika has much to discover and experience along the way, so too does the reader. With its feast of interactive animations and challenging puzzles, this new app immerses you in Mika's adventure throughout -- delivering a brand new kind of reading experience.




4. Magic Piano for iPad Not 
Really For Reading But Great Fun!
From concert pianists to curious cats, Magic Piano has captured the imagination of the world. Experience the #1 music app in over 80 countries and add your songs to the 5 million already played. Create your own music or enjoy the app’s 45 free classic and popular tunes. No practice or patience required!


5 Miss Spider's Bedtime Story for iPad is "a storybook that other storybooks should aspire to.” –Best Kids Apps
Read, watch, listen, and play with Miss Spider and her buggy bunch as they earn special sleepy-time rewards in this interactive story that is really five apps in one. With multi-touch animation, painting, puzzles, and games, Miss Spider’s Bedtime Story for iPad reinvents the reading experience for the entire family. Make bedtime fun time with Miss Spider and her friendly bug pack. If you’re not completely amazed by Miss Spider’s app, Callaway Digital Arts will refund your money, guaranteed.

SPECIAL FEATURES: -Watch story in lush 3-D CGI animation -Touch images for multimedia surprises -Read or follow along with spoken narration -Play games, solve puzzles, and paint pictures -Listen to original music and sound effects

ABOUT THE STORY: Everybuggy in the Spider family is just too busy to get to sleep on time. What’s a spider mom to do? Luckily, Miss Spider and Holley find a creative way to get the kids’ nighttime routine under control—and realize they may need a bit of help getting to bed, too!



http://itunes.apple.com



6. Grimm's Rapunzel - 3D Interactive Pop-up Book

Ideal Binary has taken the Grimm Brothers classic and updated it with modern language, a host of dazzling, fully interactive pop-up scenes, wonderful music, narration and humorous sound effects.

Building on the PopIris™ eBook engine, Grimm’s Rapunzel pushes the envelope further. Watch and interact as each pop-up scene brings the story to life by presenting simple tasks to perform, effectively weaving the reader into the fabric of the story. Carefully designed to keep young readers entertained, Grimm’s Rapunzel is sure to delight!

• Fully narrated in each language by professional actors.
• Full 3D experience - It’s just like a real book
• 30 beautifully presented pages of text
• 9 double-page interactive 3D pop-up scenes with simple tasks to perform
• Wonderfully illustrated, with beautiful, colorful imagery
• Read to Me, Read it Myself, and Autoplay modes
• Orient the book by dragging to see the 3D pop-up scenes in all their glory
• Touch or drag interactive elements and perform tasks in the 3D pop-up scenes
• Open and close the book on the reading desk
• Features a beautiful musical score and lots of amazing sound effects
• Highly optimized for smooth, seamless execution on all devices
• Language Support for English, French and German

Grimm’s Rapunzel is powered by PopIris™ from Ideal Binary. This brand new technology enables compelling and interactive 3D pop-up scenes to be created on the pages of our 3D eBooks. The first eBook to use PopIris™, Grimm's Rumpelstiltskin, was chosen by Apple as iPad App of the Week in twenty countries around the world. Grimm’s Rapunzel sees the PopIris™ technology advance even further.



7. Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin - 3D Interactive Pop-up Book

Introducing Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin, the world’s first fully 3D interactive pop-up book!
Ideal Binary has created a magical experience based on the wonderful children’s short story of Rumpelstiltskin by the Brother’s Grimm. Immerse yourself in an amazing new world with numerous pop-up scenes, characters and a beautiful musical score.
Watch as each pop-up scene brings the story to life. Carefully designed to keep young readers entertained, Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin is the perfect bedtime story!

• Fully narrated in each language by professional actors
• Full 3D experience - It’s just like a real book
• 30 beautifully presented pages of text
• 11 double-page interactive 3D pop-up scenes that complement the story
• Wonderfully illustrated, with beautiful, colorful imagery
• Orient the book by dragging to see the 3D pop-up scenes in all their glory
• Tap each pop-up character to see what they’re thinking
• Touch or drag interactive elements in the 3D pop-up scenes
• Open and close the book on the reading desk
• Features a beautiful musical score
• Presents the original, classic English translation from 1823 by Edgar Taylor and Marian Edwardes

Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin is powered by PopIris™ from Ideal Binary. This brand new technology enables compelling and interactive 3D pop-up scenes to be created on the pages of our 3D eBooks.


Saturday, May 28, 2011

Common Core Standards Initiative


Common Core Standards Initiative: Crosswalks and Resources


Remember When We Had The Highest Education Standards? Neither Do I!


Remember when we had dreams of a free quality public education. We have the educationa­l system just the way many politician­s, publishers, and administra­tors want and like. TOP DOWN! After years of teaching factory canned literacy programs that most kids hate, that leaves them no desire to read. "Reading is boring" "Books have no value" many kids see reading as a big waste of time, never a path to a future "Happily Ever After" To help my students learn to read and dream we spend the first 20-25 days of schools reading great children's literature­. We explore powerful stories that inspire, motivate, and awaken the sleeping dreams. We live the stories and dream the dreams. What inspires today's kids to dream? Today's media driven consumerism kills dreams! Canned literacy programs inspire boredom! When the dream, dreams, the dreamer, inspiratio­n is assured. Happy ever afters, are made with a life of hard-work and dreams. Will the Common Core Standards Free Us?

Common Core Standards White Papers


Common Core's Standards Still Don't Make the Grade?

Common Core Standards concerns


Common Core State Standards - Additional Resources

Common Core State Standards Resources 

Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy
NY Common Core English Language Standards  

Links to Tier 2 Academic Vocabulary Resources
Identifying Tier 2 Academic Vocabulary 
Choosing Words To Teach
Effective Vocabulary Instruction
Oral Language Development Activities

Friday, May 27, 2011

Fluency Drills: 6th Grade

Free Fluency Drills: 6th Grade
Use the Free PDF fluency drills below for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. This is a small sample from my Eclectic Speller that the students use to have fun reading and build reading fluency.

Sample Reading Fluency Drills all grades

Critical Thinking Reading Passages | College and Career Readiness

Critical thinking reading passages are the foundation of Socratic seminars and quality close reading. Selecting reading passages that inspire curiosity, critical thinking and can be used for either close reading or Socratic seminars takes pre-planning and a bit of text analysis. One of the best methods for selecting Critical Thinking Reading Passages is using a Syntopical examination of how many great ideas the passages contain. Dr. Mortimer J. Adler created a list of 103 philosophical topics that can be used to analyze text for the quality of ideas presented. Text selection is key to quality close reading and  immersive Socratic seminars.

syntopical
  1. Referring to a type of analysis in which different works are compared and contrasted.
After finishing his syntopical reading of the leaders' speeches, he wrote an essay comparing the language used by Reagan, Carter, Gorbachev, and Qaddafi.
A list of 103 philosophical topics

ONE PAGE CRITICAL THINKING PASSAGES ALIGNED TO the COMMON CORE
 from Depaul University  http://teacher.depaul.edu More Resources 

Grade Level Fiction Passages 
2nd-3rd Grade Reading Level
Little Pink Riding Hood English / Spanish 
Little Pink Riding Hood English / Spanish 

Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
2nd-3rd Grade Reading Level
 After the Chicago Fire sequence and summarize 
American Explorers evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Animal Studies infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Block Clubs infer and support the main idea of a passage 
The Captain's Job infer and support the main idea of a passage
Chicago Changes identify and support the main idea in nonfiction texts
Chicago Fire sequence events, infer  motive, and write about nonfiction 
Chicago Legacy: Burnham's Plan locate and use information to analyze a situation, write about a topic English / Spanish 
Chicago Legacy, DuSable's Choices and Changes locate and use information to analyze a situation, then write about it English / Spanish
Chicago's First Leader infer and support the main idea of a passage 
The First Flyers infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Grant Park write an extended response about a nonfiction reading 
Learn about Ghana infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Letter to the Mayor evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea
Natural Gas: An Energy Resource infer and support the main idea of a passage 
A New Park evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Pigeon Creek infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Pioneer Families infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Prairie Ecology analyze information in a nonfiction text 
Read to Learn about Symbols, Maps, and Art evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Saving Your Family's Energy Dollar infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Settlement infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Staying in Phoenix summarize a passage 
Transportation Changes infer and support the main idea of a passage 


4th Grade Reading Level
A New Day  Realistic Fiction about the Election of Barack Obama and Civil Rights
A Proud Flight   The story of Icarus

Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
4th Grade Reading Level
 Traveling West evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
What is a Fable? evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea
Working at the Hospital evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
 Breaking the Food Chain infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Chicago Changer, Jane Addams infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Chicago High Schools evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Chicago Legacy: Burnham's Plan locate and use information to analyze a situation, write about a topic English / Spanish 
Chicago Legacy, DuSable's Choices and Changes locate and use information to analyze a situation, then write about it English / Spanish 
City Government infer and support the main idea of a passage 
The Early Chicago Environment and People classify information and summarize a nonfiction topic 
Learn about Egypt infer and support the main idea of a passage 
The Football Team identify the main idea 
A Garden in Lawndale evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea (4th grade reading level)
Illinois Pioneers and Prairies infer while reading a history 
Learning about the Solar System identify the main idea of a passage, write an extended response about a nonfiction passage 
Natural Gas: An Energy Resource infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Pilsen, A Community Changes identify causes and effects 
Plants and Places infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Prairie Changes identify an author's purpose, write an extended response 
Prairie Changing the Ecosystem with Multiple Choice Questions analyze information in a nonfiction text 
Seasons on the Prairie infer and support the main idea of a passage
Settlement infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Space Food infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Staying in Phoenix infer and support the main idea of a passage
Today's Telephone infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Transportation Workers evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea
What is a Fable? evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Working at the Television Station evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea
Working at the Hospital evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
The Working Tools of Insects infer and support the main idea of a passage 

5th Grade Reading Level
Columbus and the Egg  historical fiction

Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
5th Grade Reading Level
 American Explorers infer and support the main idea of a passage
Animal Studies infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Better Living in Chicago: Jane Addams restate a situation presented in text; write to communicate about a situation (5th grade reading level)
Chicago Changes infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Chicago Fire infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Chicago Legacy: Burnham's Plan locate and use information to analyze a situation, write about a topic English / Spanish 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I can infer the author's purpose 
Election Choices infer and support the main idea of a passage 
From Many Places evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Learn about Ethiopia  infer and support the main idea of a passage )
How Have Students Made Community Progress? analyze a problem and solution in a text, identify and support the main idea 
Prairie Keepers analyze information in a nonfiction text
Public Transportation evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Read to Learn about City Systems evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Read to Learn about Elections evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
The Recycle Center evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Reversing the Chicago River identify cause-effect relations and infer predictions 
Seasons on the Prairie analyze information in a nonfiction text 
Settlement infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Valley Forge infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Who Am I sequence events, infer  motive, and write about nonfiction 

6th Grade Reading Level
Community Progress    realistic fiction about a mural
A Good Student realistic fiction about starting high school
His First Dollar historical fiction about Abraham Lincoln

Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
6th Grade Reading Level
Before Chicago infer and support the main idea of a passage
Chicago's First Leader infer and support the main idea of a passage 
The Early Chicago Environment and People classify information and summarize a nonfiction topic 
Election Choices infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Labor Day Address--Barack Obama Speech infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Learn about Zambia infer and support the main idea of a passage
Nutrition Lesson evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Plants and Food infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Prairie Ecology evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Settlement analyze information in a nonfiction text 
Seasons on the Prairie infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Traveling West infer and support the main idea of a passage 

7th Grade Reading Level
Columbus and the Egg historical fiction about an event showing Columbus as a smart person
A Good Student  realistic fiction about starting high school

Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
7th Grade Reading Level
Honest Abe infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Labor Day Address--Barack Obama Speech infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Learn about Kenya infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Learning about the Solar System infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Pilsen--A Community Changes identify causes and effects
Prairie Keepers infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Settlement infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Today's Telephone infer and support the main idea of a passage 

8th-10th Grade Reading Level


Grade Level Nonfiction Passages 
8th-10th Grade Reading Level
 An African Heritage in Chicago identify and support the main idea in a nonfiction passage 
Bold Plans, Big Dreams, City Progress identify and support the theme of a text  
Changing the Ecosystem infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Chicago is a City of Possibilities: Deval Patrick, Leader for Chicago analyze a text and write an extended response based on it 
Deval Patrick's Acceptance Speech infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Honest Abe infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea
Labor Day Address--Barack Obama Speech infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Learn about Physical Therapists evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Learn about South Africa evaluate information, summarize, and identify and support a main idea 
Maintaining Cultural Continuity infer and support the main idea of a passage 
New Leadership analyze a speech 
Settlement infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Transportation Changes infer and support the main idea of a passage 
What is Your Own Big Plan? (Barack Obama speech) analyze a text and respond to the issues it presents, write an extended response to a persuasive text 
What Values Have Shaped Chicago? identify the main idea of a passage  
Why is Community Service Important? identify the main idea and supporting information 
Chicago High Schools infer predictions 
Chicago Legacy: DuSable's Choices and Changes  infer and support the main idea of a passage 
Deval Patrick's Acceptance Speech infer and support the main idea of a passage 

Dr. Mortimer J. Adler Co-Founder and Chairman Center For the Study of the Great Ideas
The 103 Great Ideas Alphabetically
The 103 Great Ideas by Category

The list of 103 ideas is broken between the two volumes, as follows:
Volume I: AngelAnimalAristocracyArtAstronomyBeautyBeingCauseChanceChangeCitizenConstitutionCourageCustom and ConventionDefinitionDemocracyDesireDialecticDutyEducationElementEmotionEternityEvolutionExperienceFamilyFateFormGodGood and EvilGovernmentHabitHappinessHistoryHonorHypothesisIdeaImmortalityInductionInfinityJudgmentJusticeKnowledgeLaborLanguageLawLibertyLife and DeathLogic, and Love.
Volume II: ManMathematicsMatterMechanicsMedicineMemory and ImaginationMetaphysicsMindMonarchyNatureNecessity and ContingencyOligarchyOne and ManyOpinionOpposition,[13] PhilosophyPhysicsPleasure and PainPoetryPrincipleProgressProphecyPrudencePunishmentQualityQuantityReasoningRelation,[14] ReligionRevolutionRhetoricSame and OtherScienceSenseSign and SymbolSinSlaverySoulSpaceStateTemperanceTheologyTimeTruthTyranny and DespotismUniversal and ParticularVirtue and ViceWar and PeaceWealthWillWisdom, and World.

How can a Dyslexic Reading Teacher HELP 95% of all at-risk students pass the EOG Reading Test? 10 Consecutive Years!

"Mr Taylor who annually starts with a class of fourth graders, 2/3 of whom are below grade level, and ends the year with most of the class at and above grade level. He gets results by emphasizing reading and writing, and holds students responsible for the work assigned. All the students read the same challenging books, stories and poems; they spend a lot of time on vocabulary, take notes, identify the main chapter idea and write a chapter summary every day. They read about six challenging books a year...Fortunately for his students, he puts them first and is determined that every student will make at least one year of progress in his class. Some students make spectacular gains in reading, writing or math. The average student this past year made about three years academic progress....His Title I students perform as well as students in the nearby "rich" area with all top-rated schools."  Robert Cherba 

Socratic Seminar Questions?

How do laws serve or harm justice?
Why is the concept of blind justice important?

The Logicians Refuted

Logicians have but ill defined
As rational, the human kind;
Reason, they say, belongs to man,
But let them prove it if they can.
Wise Aristotle and Smiglesius,
By ratiocinations specious,
Have strove to prove, with great precision,
With definition and division,
Homo est ratione praeditum;
But for my soul I cannot credit 'em,
And must, in spite of them, maintain,
That man and all his ways are vain;
And that this boasted lord of nature
Is both a weak and erring creature;
That instinct is a surer guide
Than reason, boasting mortals' pride;
And that brute beasts are far before 'em.


Deus est anima brutorum.
Whoever knew an honest brute
At law his neighbour prosecute,
Bring action for assault or battery,
Or friend beguile with lies and flattery?
O'er plains they ramble unconfined,
No politics disturb their mind;
They eat their meals, and take their sport
Nor know who's in or out at court.
They never to the levee go
To treat, as dearest friend, a foe:
They never importune his grace,
Nor ever cringe to men in place:
Nor undertake a dirty job,
Nor draw the quill to write for Bob.


Fraught with invective, they ne'er go
To folks at Paternoster Row.
No judges, fiddlers, dancing-masters,
No pickpockets, or poetasters,
Are known to honest quadrupeds;
No single brute his fellow leads.
Brutes never meet in bloody fray,
Nor cut each other's throats for pay.
Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape
Comes nearest us in human shape;
Like man, he imitates each fashion,
And malice is his lurking passion:
But, both in malice and grimaces,
A courtier any ape surpasses.
Behold him, humbly cringing, wait
Upon the minister of state;
View him soon after to inferiors
Aping the conduct of superiors;
He promises with equal air,
And to perform takes equal care.
He in his turn finds imitators,
At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters,
Their masters' manner still contract,
And footmen, lords and dukes can act.
Thus, at the court, both great and small
Behave alike, for all ape all.



John Carter: A Prisoner 
Reading Practice Passage

We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very rapidly.
We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of Mars'
long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians
had taken place. WCPM 44

In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after traversing
a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity of which
was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. Toward this
we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading
out from the city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it
ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. WCPM 125

Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings
were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not
having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of
the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings immediately
surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of
the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite
the suave manner in which I had been trapped. WCPM 209

With the exception of their ornaments all were unclothed. The women varied
in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were
much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving
nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in color,
and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely
lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in height from
ten to twelve feet. WCPM 289

What was the state of the dwellings in the city, particularly the state of habitation?
A. The dwellings seem to have recent tenants.
B. The dwellings are inhabited and in pristine condition.
C. The city is slightly damaged with no apparent habitation.

 John Carter: My Advent on Mars
 Reading Practice Passage

I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was
on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I
was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told
me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that
you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I.
I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, moss-like vegetation
which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I
seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of
which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. WCPM 115

It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was
rather intense upon my unclothed body, yet no greater than would have
been true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there
were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the
sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a
low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no other
vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty
I determined to do a little exploring. WCPM 212

Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the effort,
which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried me into
the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted softly
upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced
a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the
extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular
exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played strange
antics with me upon Mars. WCPM 303

The terrain is similar to the Arizona Desert in what way?
A. The rocks are shimmering and covered with moss.
B. The terrain is arid and hot with no deciduous flora.
C. The land looks like Arizona with cacti and large rock outcroppings.

Around the World in 80 Days: Fluency Drill / Reading Level 6.4
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SECURES A CURIOUS MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AT A FABULOUS PRICE Author: Jules Verne Chapter XI

The train had started punctually. Among the passengers were a number of officers, Government officials, and opium and indigo merchants, whose business called them to the eastern coast. Passepartout rode in the same carriage with his master, and a third passenger occupied a seat opposite to them.47WCPM This was Sir Francis Cromarty, one of Mr.Fogg's whist partners on the Mongolia, now on his way to join his corps at Benares. Sir Francis was a tall, fair man of fifty, who had greatly distinguished himself in the last Sepoy revolt. He made India his home, only paying brief visits to England at rare intervals; and was almost as familiar as a native with the customs, history, and character of India and its people. 123WCPM But Phileas Fogg, who was not travelling, but only describing a circumference, took no pains to inquire into these subjects; he was a solid body, traversing an orbit around the terrestrial globe, according to the laws of rational mechanics. He was at this moment calculating in his mind the number of hours spent since his departure from London, and, had it been in his nature to make a useless demonstration, would have rubbed his hands for satisfaction.201 Sir Francis Cromarty had observed the oddity of his travelling companion--although the only opportunity he had for studying him had been while he was dealing the cards, and between two rubbers—and questioned himself whether a human heart really beat beneath this coldexterior, and whether Phileas Fogg had any sense of the beauties of nature.258WCPM The brigadier-general was free to mentally confess that, of all the eccentric persons he had ever met, none was comparable to this product of the exact sciences.285 WCPM



Around the World in 80 Days: Fluency Drill / Reading Level 6.0

IN WHICH CERTAIN INCIDENTS ARE NARRATED WHICH ARE ONLY TO BE MET WITH ON AMERICAN RAILROADS Author: Jules Verne Chapter XXIX


Nothing could be more simple. Indeed, it was all so simple that Fix and Passepartout felt their hearts beating as if they would crack. They were listening for the whistle agreed upon, when suddenly savage cries resounded in the air, accompanied by reports which certainly did not issue from the car where the duelists were. The reports continued in front and the whole length of the train. Cries of terror proceeded
from the interior of the cars. 77 WCPM

Colonel Proctor and Mr. Fogg, revolvers in hand, hastily quitted their prison, and rushed forward where the noise was most clamorous. They then perceived that the train was attacked by a band of Sioux. 113 WCPM

This was not the first attempt of these daring Indians, for more than once they had waylaid trains on the road. A hundred of them had, according to their habit, jumped upon the steps without stopping the train, with the ease of a clown mounting a horse at full gallop. WCPM 165

The Sioux were armed with guns, from which came the reports, to which the passengers, who were almost all armed, responded by revolver-shots. WCPM 190

The Indians had first mounted the engine, and half stunned the engineer and stoker with blows from their muskets. A Sioux chief, wishing to stop the train, but not knowing how to work the regulator, had opened
wide instead of closing the steam-valve, and the locomotive was plunging forward with terrific velocity. WCPM 244

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas: Fluency Drill / Reading Level 9.0
An Underwater Tour of the World By JULES VERNE
A Runaway Reef  CHAPTER 1

THE YEAR 1866 was marked by a bizarre development, an unexplained and downright inexplicable phenomenon that surely no one has forgotten. Without getting into those rumors that upset civilians
in the seaports and deranged the public mind even far inland, it must be said that professional seamen were especially alarmed. Traders, shipowners, captains of vessels, skippers, and master mariners from Europe and America, naval officers from every country, and at their heels the various national governments on these two continents, were all extremely disturbed by the business.92 WCPM

In essence, over a period of time several ships had encountered "an enormous thing" at sea, a long spindle-shaped object, sometimes giving off a phosphorescent glow, infinitely bigger and faster than any whale.121 WCPM

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling
locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted. If it was a cetacean, it exceeded in bulk any whale previously classified by science. No naturalist, neither Cuvier nor Lacépède, neither Professor Dumeril nor Professor de Quatrefages, would have accepted the existence of such a monster sight unseen-- specifically, unseen by their own scientific eyes. WCPM 213


Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas:
Fluency Drill / Reading Level 9.0
An Underwater Tour of the World By JULES VERNE

CHAPTER 11 The Nautilus

CAPTAIN NEMO stood up. I followed him. Contrived at the rear of the dining room, a double door opened, and I entered a room whose dimensions equaled the one I had just left.

It was a library. Tall, black-rosewood bookcases, inlaid with copperwork, held on their wide shelves a large number of uniformly bound books. These furnishings followed the contours of the room, their lower parts leading to huge couches upholstered in maroon leather and curved for maximum comfort. Light, movable reading stands, which could be pushed away or pulled near as desired, allowed books to be positioned on them for easy study. In the center stood a huge table covered with pamphlets, among which some  newspapers, long out of date, were visible. Electric light flooded this whole harmonious totality, falling from
four frosted half globes set in the scrollwork of the ceiling. I stared in genuine wonderment at this room so ingeniously laid out, and I couldn't believe my eyes. WCPM 161

"Captain Nemo," I told my host, who had just stretched out on a couch, "this is a library that would do credit to more than onecontinental palace, and I truly marvel to think it can go with you into the deepest seas." WCPM 206

"Where could one find greater silence or solitude, professor?" Captain Nemo replied. "Did your study at the museum afford you such a perfect retreat?"

"No, sir, and I might add that it's quite a humble one next to yours. You own 6,000 or 7,000 volumes here . . ." WCPM 257

"12,000, Professor Aronnax. They're my sole remaining ties with dry land. But I was done with the shore the day my Nautilus submerged for the first time under the waters. That day I purchased my last volumes, my last pamphlets, my last newspapers, and ever since I've chosen to believe that humanity no longer thinks or writes. In any event, professor, these books are at your disposal, and you may use them freely." WCPM 333


Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas:
Fluency Drill / Reading Level 12.0
An Underwater Tour of the World By JULES VERNE

CHAPTER 9 A Lost Continent/ATLANTIS


What lightning flashed through my mind! Atlantis, that ancient land of Meropis mentioned by the historian Theopompus; Plato's Atlantis; the continent whose very existence has been denied by such philosophers
and scientists as Origen, Porphyry, Iamblichus, d'Anville, Malte-Brun, and Humboldt, who entered its disappearance in the ledger of myths and folk tales; the country whose reality has nevertheless been accepted by such other thinkers as Posidonius, Pliny, Ammianus Marcellinus, Tertullian, Engel, Scherer, Tournefort, Buffon, and d'Avezac; I had this land right under my eyes, furnishing its own unimpeachable evidence of the catastrophe that had overtaken it! So this was the submerged region that had existed outside Europe, Asia, and Libya, beyond the Pillars of Hercules, home of those powerful Atlantean people against whom ancient Greece had waged its earliest wars! WCPM 120

The writer whose narratives record the lofty deeds of those heroic times is Plato himself. His dialogues Timaeus and Critias were drafted with the poet and legislator Solon as their inspiration, as it were. WCPM 166

One day Solon was conversing with some elderly wise men in the Egyptian capital of Sais, a town already 8,000 years of age, as documented by the annals engraved on the sacred walls of its temples. One of these elders related the history of another town 1,000 years older still. This original city of Athens, ninety centuries old, had been invaded and partly destroyed by the Atlanteans. These Atlanteans, he said, resided on an  immense continent greater than Africa and Asia combined, taking in an area that lay between latitude 12 degrees and 40 degrees north. Their dominion extended even to Egypt. They tried to enforce their rule as far as Greece, but they had to retreat before the indomitable resistance of the Hellenic people. Centuries passed. A cataclysm occurred--floods, earthquakes. A single night and day were enough to obliterate this Atlantis, whose highest peaks (Madeira, the Azores, the Canaries, the Cape Verde Islands) still emerge above the waves. WCPM 323


A Journey into the Interior of the Earth:
Fluency Drill / Reading Level 6.0
Chapter 27 Lost in the Bowels of the Earth by Jules Verne

To describe my despair would be impossible. No words could tell it. Idescribe my despair would be impossible. No words could tell it. Iwas buried alive, with the prospect before me of dying of hunger and
thirst. Mechanically I swept the ground with my hands. How dry and hard the rock seemed to me! But how had I left the course of the stream? For it was a terrible fact that it no longer ran at my side. Then I understood the reason of that fearful, silence, when for the last time I listened to hear if any sound from my companions could reach my ears. At the moment when I left the right road I had not noticed the absence of the stream. It is evident that at that moment a deviation had presented itself before me, whilst the Hansbach, following the caprice of another incline, had gone with my companions away into unknown depths. WCPM 146

How was I to return? There was not a trace of their footsteps or of my own, for the foot left no mark upon the granite floor. I racked my brain for a solution of this impracticable problem. One word described my position. Lost! Lost at an immeasurable depth! Thirty leagues of rock seemed to weigh upon my shoulders with a dreadful pressure. I felt crushed. I tried to carry back my ideas to things on the surface of the earth. I could scarcely succeed. Hamburg, the house in the Königstrasse, my poor Gräuben, all that busy world underneath which I was wandering about, was passing in rapid confusion before my terrified memory. I could revive with vivid reality all the incidents of our voyage, Iceland, M. Fridrikssen, Snæfell. I said to myself that if, in such a position as I was now in, I was fool enough to cling to one glimpse of hope, it would be madness, and that the best thing I could do was to despair. WCPM 318

George Washington Carver 
Fluency Drill / Reading Level 6.0

George Washington Carver was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. He was born into slavery during the America Civil wart in Missouri a year before the end of the war. CWPM 31

When George Washington Carver was only a week old, George, a sister, and his mother were kidnapped by night raiders from Arkansas. George's brother, James, was rushed to safety from the kidnappers. The kidnappers sold the slaves in Kentucky. Moses Carver hired John Bentley to find them, but he located only the infant George. Moses negotiated with the raiders to gain the boy's return. and rewarded Bentley. CWPM 99

After slavery was abolished, Moses Carver and his wife Susan raised George and his older brother James as their own children. They encouraged George to continue his love of learning and reading, and his "Auntie Susan" taught him the basics of reading and writing that he turned into a lifelong passion of learning. CWPM 147

African American people were not allowed to go to white only public schools in Diamond Grove. The nearest segregated school for African American children was 10 miles away in Neosho, George decided to go there to continue his education. When he reached the town, he found the school closed for the night. He slept in a nearby barn. By his own account, the next morning he met a kind woman, Mariah Watkins, from whom he wished to rent a room. When he identified himself as "Carver's George," as he had done his whole life, she replied that from now on his name was "George Carver". George liked this lady very much, and her words, "You must learn all you can, then go back out into the world and give your learning back to the people", made a great impression on him. CWPM 286