The toobies

English home language

Let’s go underground

Educator section

Memorandum

Educator’s page:

The sounds to be introduced in this module are:- k as in kite; b as in ball; p as in pipe; s as in snake; f as in fox; e as in egg; d as in donkey; g as in gate.

The learner should, at the end of Module 3, be able to recognise all these sounds, namely, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, v, w.

Daily revision of these sounds is essential, as well as assessing individually to see whether some learners are confused. If so – re-teach those sounds, play flash card games with them, match sound to picture until they know them all fluently.

Matching sound to picture can be done in the following way.

a o g n On a card. Match pictures to card

h b f p

l v c e

w r k d

Word building is to be introduced only with sounds already learnt.

This is a slow process that needs much practice. Listening and identifying the beginning as well as the last letters should precede word building, e.g. “Listen to the word; what can you hear first? Cat. What can you hear last?” The educator will emphasize the letter to be identified, e.g. cat. Many examples can be given. Use 3-letter words.

As soon as learners can identify the beginning and the last letters, let them listen for the middle letter, again emphasizing it, e.g. cat.

Reading

Learners have, at the end of Module 3, learnt to read and recognise ±100 words.

Here again much repetition and frequent consolidation is necessary. Use the vocabulary pages in the modules. Learners can read these words to one another, in pairs, in small groups and at home. Many games can also be devised for consolidating these words.

Encourage the learners to make up their own stories (sentences) orally, using these words. They can be encouraged to write these sentences – at first perhaps one a day – and then to illustrate them. Their stories will become longer depending on the amount of practice they get in using the vocabulary for their own stories. Also encourage them to use the new words, which were introduced when the new sound was taught. If they also “read” through these pages regularly, they will soon have a large amount of words with which to make their own new “stories”.

The game: The “friend’s” card can be cut off, making two loose cards. The educator can make other cards with words that need to be practised.

The educator needs to photostat the cards 1, 2, 3 and 4 for extra copies, which are cut up, for the small cards. These small cards are shuffled and learners take turns to pick them up, read them and match the word on the small card to the word on their card. The learner covers his/her card with the small card. The one who has covered his/her whole card first is the winner.

• Learners look at pictures of Toobies
• Read the story.

OVERVIEW

Willy’s friends are the Toobies who live in tunnels in the grasslands. The rains begin and flood out the underground railway. The wise old owl suggests they ask the Toobies to help them dig a new tunnel.

They are stories to read, birthday cards to make and problems to discuss.