Why Cry, Silly Baby?

Phonics and phonological awareness (y-as-a-vowel words), Fluency

cry, silly, baby, my, try, funny, bunny, pretty, why, story, sunny, sky, grumpy, poopy, dry, tiny, very, hungry, spy, shy, yummy, happy, tummy, sleepy

that, what, you, we, are

talk, eyes, heard

Small Group

• This fun phonics text is controlled for a specific phonics pattern—words in which the letter y is making the long /ē/ or /ī/ sound. Match students who might need practice with this pattern for small-group reading.

Pairs, Independent Reading

• For children who have moved beyond this pattern, “Why Cry, Silly Baby?” is a fun story to read independently or with a partner. Have children read it multiple times to practice fluency and comprehension.

Preview Letter Sounds and High-Frequency Words (15 minutes)

• Do a mini lesson to review words with the y-as-a-vowel spelling pattern. In this pattern, the letter y comes at the end of the word and does not make its consonant sound. Instead, the letter y makes a long vowel e or i sound.
• You can practice the y-as-a-vowel pattern by completing a word sort. Create three columns on an easel: y like yellow; y like baby; y like cry. State the following words, have students echo, and work as a class to sort the words by their y sounds: yarn, happy, sky, yes, shy, candy, yell, fly, silly.
• Use the online Word Sounds Slideshow to help children sound out and listen to y-as-a-vowel- words from the story.
• Review high-frequency words from the story, such as that, what, you, we, and are. You might encourage advanced readers to do a fast read of this word list.

Set a Purpose for Reading (3-5 minutes)

• Let children look at the pictures. Tell them this is a silly story about a boy and a crying baby. You can read together to find out why the baby is crying.

• As children read, check comprehension. What is the problem in the story? How does the boy try to make the baby happy? What does the baby want?
• Have children review the story and highlight words with the y-as-a-vowel spelling pattern. They can practice by reading words aloud.

• Give students practice reading and sorting words with Y Screams for Ice Cream!

Reading Focus: Phonological Awareness (10 minutes)

• Students can match pictures to words making the vowel sounds of y with the Sounds of Y skills page.