The Story Box

Shared reading, the whole-group instructional model of The Story Box reading program, is enjoyable and purposeful. It demonstrates the reading process, scaffolds instruction, and provides support for beginning readers while giving them opportunities to behave as independent readers. Shared reading:

• Develops and reinforces phonological awareness, oral language skills, concepts of print, and phonics skills
• Expands vocabulary
• Increases comprehension

Each shared reading title has a 16-page, five-day lesson plan that provides effective, flexible teaching strategies in a simple-to-use format. The valuable information and instructional guidance allows teachers to implement a reading program that balances skills instruction and quality literature.

Guided reading, the formal instructional component of a reading program, builds a bridge between whole-group shared reading and independent reading. It provides an effective structure to extend previous instruction, introduce and model new skills and strategies, and to assess individual programs. With guided reading, teachers can:

• Create flexible reading groups
• Tailor instruction to students’ needs
• Extend previous learning
• Guide learning skills
• Introduce new skills and strategies
• Assess individual progress
• Sequence instruction
• Guide reading strategies

Each guided reading title has a detailed six-step lesson plan on cardstock that can be removed from the teacher guide binder for easy use and classroom management. As with the shared reading lesson plans, the two-sided guided reading lesson plans include icons that highlight lessons, activities, and strategies.

Features:

The Story Box program features:

• Big Books
• Read-Together student books
• Poetry Posters with teacher notes
• Cassettes
• Teacher guides for shared and guided reading
• Guided reading student books
• Take-Me-Homes™ blackline masters