The Adventures of the Plott Family: A Decodable Stories Collection: 6 Chaptered Stories for Practicing Phonics Skills and Strengthening Reading Comprehension and Fluency (Reading Tools for Kids with Dyslexia)

By Heather Vidal

Improve confidence in reading for struggling readers and children with dyslexia with this decodable chapter book collection filled with fun and exciting adventures; featuring six separate stories all in one big book!

Follow the Plott family on a series of fun and exciting adventures in this series of chaptered stories perfect for independent reading practice or shared reading. For Ash and Mel, two 10-year-old twin girls, there is always fun to be had in their small town of Longbranch. Whether they are on a camping trip with their parents or scaring their mischievous little brother, Calvin, the twins are always up to something. Follow them as they travel, learn new things, and take on challenges together.

This engaging collection contains six decodable stories for building reading fluency, stamina and comprehension. This phonics-first text is written for students who have mastered sounding out words with short vowels, closed syllables, and blends. It is written with principles based in the science of reading by two educators who have made teaching students with dyslexia their passion. The six stories are written in a format specifically designed to foster a love of reading, even in reluctant readers, and include adventures such as:

• A Trip to the Spring
• The Big Catfish
• The Camping Trip
• And more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ulysses Press
• Release date: Apr 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9781646046348

Heather Vidal

Heather MacLeod-Vidal is a former teacher, tutor, educational business owner, and coauthor of Teach Reading with Orton-Gillingham. She currently works as a literacy specialist to support students with dyslexia and other learning differences in a Tampa Bay area school. She has a degree in elementary education from the University of Tampa and is endorsed in reading, ESOL, and exceptional student education. She is passionate about teaching all children to read. She lives in Gulfport, Florida, with her husband, two children, and a variety of rescue animals.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It is a hot day and there is no class. Ash has spent the day sketching, but she wants to run and swim with her sister, Mel. Mel is finished with her checklist and has just put down her Cath Jackson novel. She sticks her pen back into her big bun. Calvin wants to get out and play. He has spent the day pranking Mel and Ash.

Mel and Ash are twins. They are ten. They have a mom; a dad; a brother, Calvin; and a black dog, Mack.

Mel is the checklist kid. She likes to have a plan, and she likes to read. She tends to panic when her plans do not happen. Ash likes to sketch and invent things. She is a hip kid with lots of buds. Calvin is six. He likes to play tricks on his sisters.

Mrs. Plott yells, Kids, I have a plan!

The kids run to their mom in the loft.

She says, There is no class, so let’s go to the spring for a picnic and a swim.

The spring is the best spot to spend a hot day. The water has a chill to it, and you can spot fish, frogs, and bugs.

Mel and Ash jump up and down! Ash’s long twists flop up and down with her. Calvin is not as glad. Calvin cannot swim yet. He would like to jump on the rocks and run in the grass with Mack. He does not want to swim in the cold spring!

Mrs. Plott packs up the picnic basket. She puts hummus sandwiches for Mel, Ash, and Calvin into the basket. She adds plums and hot pumpkin muffins. Then she puts in drinks.

The kids get in the big red van. Mr. and Mrs. Plott pack the trunk with the picnic basket and a bag with a blanket, novels, hats, and sunblock.

Can we go yet? ask the kids.

Yes, let’s go, their mom and dad sing.

The path to the spring is long. Mel and Ash are sick of the van! The kids chat, sing, and look for the spring. The big red van makes a left, and the spring is there!

Chapter 2

They all jump out of the van. Mrs. Plott brings the big picnic basket, Mr. Plott gets the bag, and the twins sprint

to the water. Calvin plods

to the spring with his mom and dad. Calvin dips his hand in the water.

Mel and Ash strip down and run in as their mom and dad set up the blanket. Calvin dips in his hand in the water.

BRRRR, he yells.

The twins splash and dip in the spring. They swim and sink down to spot fish, frogs, and bugs. There are big bass in the spring, as well as catfish on the sand at the bottom. Bugs flit

on top of the water, and frogs jump in from the rocks and grass. The frogs plop in as the twins attempt to catch them.

That frog is fast! Ash yells and grins as Mel bobs up and down, her big bun sticking out of the water.

Calvin looks at his sis. Calvin is a champ at catching frogs and bugs, but he cannot swim. His mom has given him swim lessons in the past. She has also given him a raft for when he is not with her, but he panics in the water. He looks for chipmunks on the grass, but he cannot spot them.

sprint:

to run quickly

plods:

walks with slow, dragging steps

flits:

to move quickly back and forth

Chapter 3

Mr. Plott puts the picnic blanket on a soft spot in the grass. Mrs. Plott gets out the sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. Their dad calls out to the twins and to Calvin.

Lunch time! he yells.

YUM! the twins yip with a grin.

Calvin and the twins rush to the blanket. The grub

is fantastic. The twins gulp down the sandwiches and the plums. They sip the drinks and munch on the muffins.

Calvin is not as fast. He is not in a rush to get into the spring. His mom and dad chat with Calvin and tell him, Go into the spring, Calvin. We can help you swim with Ash and Mel.

Calvin is not into swimming. He says, No, thank you.

Just