Summary:

Tim is running late for school, so he decides to take a shortcut. Unfortunately, he slips into a mud puddle. He can't go to school all dirty!  He cleans up, but because he is still in such a rush, he forgets to clean his feet.  He slips back into the mud again.  If only he took his time!

In this imaginative retelling of the story, "The Mud", students have a familiar story to help them transition to serif font.

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Full Text:

Page 1)    tim was running late to his kindergarten class.  he crossed a grassy path to save time.
Page 2)   he was in such a rush that he did not see the big mud puddle.  he fell in it and screamed, "ah!"
Page 3)   he was stuck and sinking fast!  tim said, "perhaps if I grab that log, I can tug until I get up on the grass!"
Page 4)   tim grinned, "that was close! well, I better keep on dashing to class."
Page 5)   "wait!" tim gasped, "I can't enter the class splattered with mud. the teacher will not like that!"
Page 6)   luckily, mom made tim bring a cleaning kit in his pack, just in case.
Page 7)   tim said, "yes!  I can still make it to kindergarten on time."
Page 8)   but tim was in such a big rush that he did not clean his feet.
Page 9)   after a single step, tim slipped and flipped back in the muddy puddle.
Page 10) tim said, "perhaps I will not make a mistake like this if I am not in such a big rush."

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Phonemes:

/ă/ (IPA: æ),        /m/,                  /t/,                   /ē/ (IPA: i),            /s/,                       /ĭ/ (IPA: ɪ),        

‍/f/,                       /d/,                   /r/,                   /th/ (IPA: ð),         /ŏ/ (IPA: ɒ),          /g/,

‍/l/,                        /h/,                  /ŭ/ (IPA: ʌ),      /k/,                       /b/,                       /n/,

‍/sh/ (IPA: ʃ),       /ā/ (IPA: eɪ),     /k/,                   /v/,                       /ō/ (IPA: oʊ),        /w/,

‍/ch/ (IPA: tʃ),     /ŏr/ (IPA: ɑr),    /ər/ (IPA: ɜr),   /ĕ/ (IPA: ɛ),           /j/ (IPA: dʒ),        /p/,

‍/ī/ (IPA: aɪ),        /ĭŋ/ (IPA: ɪŋ),     /y/ (IPA: j),      /ks/,                      /kw/,                    /z/,

‍/ū/ (IPA: ju)

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Decodable:

‍This booklet is designed for kindergarten students to read independently after they have reached the cycle indicated on the cover. Students should use this to practice decoding and to develop independent reading habits. This should not be used for guided reading or for the development of content knowledge.

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Printable: ‍

This file is designed to be printed, folded, stapled, and given to students as a booklet.  

• Step 1: To print, select “print on both sides of the paper” and “flip on the short edge” in your print menu.  

• Step 2: Fold the printed pages along the dashed line in the center, and staple on top of the three staple images on the front cover.

When one student finishes reading the booklet, you can pass it on to the next student who is ready for it.  Or you can create one copy for each student and tell them that they can color the pictures when they finish reading it.

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