Article
Shutterstock.com
Silly Decodable,

Gert the Bird

Read a silly story filled with decodable and r-controlled vowel words.

By Liza Charlesworth
From the March/April 2023 Issue
Lexiles: 270L
Guided Reading Level: I
Featured Skill: Fluency, Vocabulary,
Challenge words: slow, snail, sleep
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print RF.1.1.A Recognize the distinguishing features of a sentence RF.1.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words RF.1.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension SL1.1. Participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults
TEKS Standards
  • English Language Arts
    (2) Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: beginning reading and writing. The student develops word structure knowledge through phonological awareness, print concepts, phonics, and morphology to communicate, decode, and spell. The student is expected to: (B) demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge by: (i) decoding words in isolation and in context by applying common letter sound correspondences; (ii) decoding words with initial and final consonant blends, digraphs, and trigraphs. (5) Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: self-sustained reading. The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and interact independently with text for increasing periods of time.

Magazine View
See Student View

Meet a bird.

Her name is Gert. Chirp, chirp. 

Time to find a home! 

Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty Images 

So Gert went to a farm. 

Flap, dart, twirl, fly!

Shutterstock.com

First, Gert saw a barn.

But a herd of cows was in it. 

This was NOT a home for a bird.

Shutterstock.com

Next, Gert saw a car that did not work. It was full of dirt.

This was NOT a home for a bird.

Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty Images 

Then, Gert saw a field of corn.

Who was that tall girl in the corn?

This was NOT a home for a bird.

Shutterstock.com

Gert flew up, up, up to a perch. Now she could see far. 

Did Gert spot a home? 

No! But she did like her perch.

Shutterstock.com

That gave Gert a smart idea.

She got some sticks, grass, and yarn.

Shutterstock.com

Sort, weave, twirl, pack!

Gert made a nest on the perch.

This WAS a home for a bird!

Shutterstock.com

Surprise! Gert laid two eggs.

Out came Bert. Out came Herb.

Gabriel Chalmeta/500px/Getty Images

Slideshows (1)
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (2) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Phonics and phonological awareness (r-controlled vowel words), Fluency

R-controlled vowel words

bird, chirp, twirl, first, dirt, girl, barn, car, farm, dart, far, smart, yarn, her, Gert, Bert, Herb, perch, work, corn, for, sort

High-frequency words

to, this, was, she, saw

Challenge words

field, idea, weave, surprise, laid

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS

Small Group

  •  This fun phonics text is controlled for a specific phonics element—words with the r-controlled vowel spelling pattern. Match students who might need practice with this pattern for small-group reading.

Pairs, Independent Reading

  • For children who have mastered this pattern, “Gert the Bird” can serve as a spiral review of words with r-controlled vowels. It is also a fun story to read independently with a partner. Have children read it multiple times to practice fluency and comprehension.

1. BEFORE READING

Mini Phonics Lesson (15 minutes)

  • Do a mini phonics lesson to review words with an r-controlled vowel spelling pattern. In these words, the letter r changes the vowel sound.
  • Show children how r-controlled vowels make different sounds:
  • —ar sounds like a pirate
  • —or sounds like the word or
  • —ir, er, and ur all make the /er/ sound
  • Use minimal pairs to contrast words with and without the r-controlled vowel spelling pattern, for example: pat/part; gem/germ; fist/first; cod/cord; hut/hurt.
  • Try the online Word Sounds Slideshow to help children sound out and listen to r-controlled vowel words.
  • Review high-frequency words from the story: to, this, was, she, and saw. Encourage advanced readers to do a fast read of the sight words.

Set a Purpose for Reading (3-5 minutes)

  • Let children look at the pictures. Tell children this is a silly story about a bird and her search for a home. Read to find out where she lands!

2. READ THE STORY (10 MINUTES)

  • Prompt children to make predictions and check comprehension. Who is Gert? Where did she go? Why was Gert flying from place to place? How did the story end?
  • Have children review the story and highlight words with the r-controlled vowel spelling pattern: ar, er, ir, or, ur. They can practice by reading words aloud.

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON SKILLS

Reading Focus: Phonics (10 minutes)

Reading Focus: Phonological Awareness (10 minutes)

  • Students can find pictures of words that make an r-controlled vowel sound with the I Spy skills page.

Text-to-Speech