The rat is back: (Red Squirrel Phonics Level 5)
Red Squirrel Phonics Series
What’s inside...
The delightful tale of a clever rat who returns to his forest community, learning new lessons and making new friends along the way. Red Squirrel Phonics is a new series of decodable readers from Raintree, packed with real stories using words that children can read. The programme teaches children phonics skills in a sequential and systematic way so that they can learn the sounds (phonemes) and the letters that represent them (graphemes) and then practise and apply this knowledge through reading appealing, decodable texts that make sense. This ensures that every beginner reader will experience success in their reading from their very first book! This is a Level 5 book. Sid failed to catch a rat in an earlier book. Now the rat is back. Sid and the rat both have a plan but whose plan will succeed.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the rat was feeling when he came back? Can you describe a time you felt the same way?
What do you think makes the rat's adventures exciting? What adventure would you like to go on?
How do the other characters in the story react to the rat's return? Why do you think they reacted that way?
What do you think we can learn from the rat? Is there a lesson in his adventures?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the story to life, changing your tone and pace to match the unfolding events, making the story more engaging.
Encourage your child to predict what might happen next or how the story might have changed if the rat made different choices.
Relate the rat’s emotions and experiences to real-life scenarios your child may face, enhancing empathy and understanding.
After reading, ask your child to draw a picture of their favorite scene or character from the book. Discuss why they chose that particular scene or character.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: The protagonist, a clever rat, faces various challenges but never gives up, showcasing resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of perseverance in achieving goals, whether in their studies, sports, or personal projects.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, the rat encounters problems that he needs to solve using his intellect and resources.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and develop problem-solving skills applicable in schoolwork and social interactions.
Example Lesson: Literacy Skills
Explanation: The book is part of the Red Squirrel Phonics series, which is designed to improve reading skills through phonetic cues and repetitive patterns.
Real-World Application: Children can enhance their reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence, leading to better academic performance and enjoyment of reading.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The interactions between the rat and other characters help children understand and share the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: This can help children in developing strong interpersonal relationships and emotional intelligence.