Mud Bath

Phonics (mixed short-vowel cvc words) Fluency

mud, tub, fun, but, get, yet, wet, pig, sit, fit, big, dip, bit not, hop

the, be, is, you, are, what, do, go, no

rub-a-dub-dub

Small Group

• Decodable texts are controlled for specific phonics patterns. This decodable story focuses on mixed short-vowel cvc words. Match students who might need practice with this pattern for small-group reading.

Pairs, Independent Reading

• For children who have moved beyond this pattern, “Mud Bath” 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 phonics lesson to review short- vowel sounds. Write out the five vowels and ask children to say the letter names. Remind children that vowels can say their own name— and they can make their short-vowel sound. Point to each letter and make the short-vowel sound. Have children repeat aloud.
• Demonstrate sounding out cvc (consonant- vowel-consonant) words. For example, write the word mud. First, read the word segmenting the sounds and pointing to each letter. Can children hear the short-u sound? Then read the word blending the sounds together. Have children do this with you aloud.
• Use the online Word Sounds Slideshow to help children sound out cvc words with short vowels. (Be sure to turn your volume up!)
• Review high-frequency words from the story, such as the, be, is, you, are, what, do, go, and no. You might 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 it is a silly story about a pig that won’t take a bath. Read to find out if the pig gets in the tub!

• As children read, prompt them to make predictions. How will the boy get the pig in the tub?
• Have children read the story again and highlight short-vowel words, concentrating on each vowel in the story one at a time: u, e, i, and o.

• Choose the Sound gives students the opportunity to practice decoding and writing cvc words.

Reading Focus: Phonological Awareness (10 minutes)

• Students can match short-vowel sounds with the Mud Bath skills page.