Description
Passage of the Day (POD) is a quick and effective way to review close reading and comprehension skills. Each of the 40 PODs consists of a short, engaging passage with two text-dependent questions to reinforce reading skills, and a bonus writing activity. There are two passages on each page. The pages are meant to be cut in half, with one half used each day. Alternatively, you could use the whole page if you want students to complete two passages in one day.
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A digital version is also included for use with Google Classroom. Each POD is sized for a full slide and include text boxes for student input. Perfect for the paperless classroom. Please see the free preview for more information.
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Each POD is numbered in the upper right. All of the odd numbered PODs are informational text (nonfiction) while the even ones are all fictional texts. Just for fun, the two PODs on each page are related in some way. Sometimes the connection is obvious, but often it is more subtle. As an extra activity, you could have your students tell how the passages are connected.
There are two questions for each POD. The questions are a mix of short answer and multiple choice. One question (usually the first one) is a vocabulary or comprehension question while the other question focuses on some aspect of close reading such as inference, POV, main idea, summarizing, author’s purpose, text structure, fact and opinion, genre, analysis, etc.
Each passage also includes a writing prompt for students to complete on the back of the page. The prompt is always related to the passage, designed to hook even the most reluctant writers, and will help your students to think critically and creatively while making personal connections with the text. Use it as an activity for early finishers, extra credit, homework, or as a required part of the assignment. There is also an optional lined back page for two-sided printing.
Full page answer keys are also included.
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Yes, more sets are coming! At least 2 and possibly 3, depending on demand. Each set will contain 40 passages and be formatted the same as this one.
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For Google Slides
To access the student slides, you will need to have a (free) Google Drive account. When you click the link on the PDF that you will download after purchase, you will be prompted to make your own copy. Once you do, you can rename it and distribute it to your students through Google Classroom or whatever platform you use. You will want to make sure that your students each make their own copies so that no one is editing your original.
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Suggestions for use:
-Use as bell work at the start of the day or for warm up before your reading block.
-Use at literacy centers.
-Create packets or notebooks and allow students to complete at their own pace.
-Use as exit slips.
-Send home as homework.
-Use as test prep or extra practice.
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About the Author
These passages were written by me, Rachel Lynette. I am a published author of over 120 nonfiction books for children on a variety of subjects, as well as several teacher resource books. I have written for publishers such as Harcourt, Thompson-Gale, Rosen, Children’s Press, Evan-Moor, Kagan, and several others. These student reading passages reflect more than a decade of professional writing experience.
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About the Common Core:
Most of the Common Core Standards for Reading Literature (RL) and Reading Informational Text (RI) for grades 3-5 are addressed within this resource. There are a few standards that are beyond the reach of this kind of practice that could not be included. In addition, the Fluency standards for Reading Foundations (RF) are also covered.
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Titles Included (odd numbers = informational text, even numbers = fictional text):
1. Underwater Bike Race
2. Emma’s Mix Up
3. Molasses Disaster
4. One Thing Leads to Another
5. Your Saliva
6. Anna’s Apple Pie
7. The Invention of LEGO Bricks
8. A Special Gift
9. Squid vs. Octopus
10. My Jar Collection
11. Venus Flytrap
12. Ambush!
13. The Color of Your Eyes
14. The Unwanted Kitten
15. Little Free Libraries
16. Neighborhood Stuff Swap
17. Where the Wild Horses Are
18. The Art Show
19. No More Pennies
20. Flip Penny
21. The Great Barrier Reef
22 Wish You Were Here
23. Sand Cats of the Sahara
24. A New Friend
25. The Hair on Your Head
26. Bad Hair Day
27. The World’s Largest Meteorite
28. Star Jeans
29. Frozen Frogs
30. Frog Catchers
31. Why it Hails
32. Saved by the Storm
33. The Grand Canyon
34. The Magic Coin
35. Barber-Surgeons
36. Lucy’s Haircut
37. The Longest Tunnel in the World
38. Spencer’s Adventure
39. Mad as a Hatter
40. A Very Special Magic Show
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Need longer passages? Try:
Text Time
Want reference posters to foster reading independence? Check out:
This Giant Reading Posters Bundle
Want to use task cards to reinforce reading skills? Then you need:
This Reading Skills Task Card Bundle
Want more ELA and reading skills review? Have a look at:
I Heart Literacy
Want your students to write better paragraphs? Then you need:
I Heart Paragraph Writing
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Everything included in this resource is licensed for single classroom use only. It may be photocopied by the original purchaser for his or her classroom only. It may not be put on the internet, sold, or distributed in any form. Thank you for respecting the copyright.
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Happy Teaching!
Rachel Lynette
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