This guide has been compiled to assist teachers with integrating the Ziptales online stories and activities into classroom reading programs using a theme-based learning approach. It offers twenty-four pre-planned units of work based around popular classroom themes, each providing a list of relevant Ziptales stories for students to read and related literacy activities for each story. In addition to these planned activities, assessment ideas have been provided for each unit of work covering the main literacy areas.
It is vital for teachers to understand the Ziptales 10 stage Reading Scheme, which governs how reading groups can be formed in a way which matches children’s abilities to the appropriate texts. To check on this essential resource - click here.
The 10 Zip Stages cover all levels of reading ability, from Pre-K through to Grade 6. This scheme underpins the whole Themes module.
Benefits of using the Ziptales thematic planners:
- The Ziptales stories cater for a wide range of reading abilities and students can be directed to their most appropriate level via the What’s my Ziptales reading level? reading engine link found on the Students’ Dashboard. Each level is clearly identifiable in the thematic planners and teachers can freely select appropriate stories to suit their class groupings.
- The planners are 'user-friendly' in that they clearly outline the related activities for each online story. Suggested activities are presented in the areas of Reading Comprehension, Language Conventions, Writing and Speaking and Listening thus catering for the essential learning areas of a quality Language Arts program. Extension activities are also provided.
- The planners eliminate the need for teachers to read through each story to determine their theme and appropriate reading level.
- Additional activities pertaining to other aspects of the Ziptales website such as Graphic Classics are included in the plans where relevant thus allowing schools to reap the full benefit of the extensive Ziptales facilities.
Resources:
- A detailed explanation and examples of how to use a Reading Program.
- A guide on using the Assessment Ideas section at the end of each theme.
- A Comprehension Results Record Sheet for tracking students' performance with comprehension activities.
