Oxford Reading Tree: TreeTops: Stage 12 Pack A: Billy's Luck
English Reading Tree Series
What’s inside...
Treetops is Oxford Reading Tree's new series of fiction with built-in progression for pupils aged 7 to 11. Specially written for children who need the support of carefully monitored language levels, the stories are accessible, motivating, and humorous. The series is organized into Oxford Reading Tree Stages (from Stage 10 to Stage 14), with each stage introducing more complex narrative forms, including flashbacks and changes in viewpoint; descriptive writing; extended reading vocabulary; and more pages, more text, and fewer illustrations. Each stage is supported by the Teacher's Guide, which offers guidance on using Treetops to assess children's reading ability, and includes a variety of activities (comprehension, writing for a range of audiences and in different forms, discussion and role play) many on photocopiable sheets.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Billy felt when he found out about his luck? What would you do if you were in his shoes?
What lessons do you think Billy learned by the end of the story? Why are those lessons important?
Who was your favorite character in the story and why?
How did the characters in the book help each other? Can you think of a time when you helped someone or someone helped you?
If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story and relate it to their own experiences. This can help deepen their understanding and connection to the story.
Discuss the moral of the story and its implications in real life to instill important values.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next if the story continued. This can help enhance their creativity and imagination.
Foster empathy by asking how they would feel in the same situation as the main character.
Celebrate the problem-solving aspects of the story by asking your child how they would solve a similar problem.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The story showcases Billy's determination in facing challenges and not giving up easily even when the situations are difficult.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to keep trying and not give up when they face challenges in school or in their personal activities.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Billy works together with his friends to solve problems, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and collective effort.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to collaborate with their peers in group tasks at school and share responsibilities in team projects.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Billy employs critical thinking to navigate various predicaments, demonstrating effective problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to think critically and come up with creative solutions to their daily challenges, whether academic or social.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Billy takes responsibility for his actions and learns to deal with the consequences, which is a crucial element of the story.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of taking responsibility for their own actions and learning from their mistakes.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As Billy interacts with different characters, he learns to understand and share their feelings, fostering a sense of empathy.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be considerate and understanding towards the feelings of others in real-life interactions with friends and family.