Ages:Ages 3-8Grades:PreK-3

Target receptive and expressive language skills with engaging Matt and Molly stories, motivating hands-on activities, and predictable lesson routines.

Eight theme-based animal stories and activities target skills in:

• narrative language
• vocabulary and concepts
• answering questions
• sequencing and predicting
• determining what's missing
• reading comprehension

The program includes eight stories with:

• four full-color, 8½" x 11" sequence pictures for each story (32 total pictures)
• four large-print sentence strips per story that students match to the correct illustrations (32 sentence strips for each program)
• six wh- and how word cards, a Yes card, and a No card for the question-asking activities
• a teacher manual with complete lesson plans and teaching techniques designed to engage students in learning. The manual includes:
  • ready-to-use lists of yes/no, wh-, and how questions for each story
  • target vocabulary/concept words
  • teaching suggestions
  • a list of easy-to-find props for role-playing each story sequence

Each lesson follows the same two-day routine and can be used with one student, a small group, or an entire class. Matt and Molly are the main characters of every story, so students begin to consider them good friends as they progress through each lesson.

Day one routine is:

• sing the Matt and Molly theme song
• introduce the story
• describe the picture cards and introduce the vocabulary/concepts
• predicting activity
• story review activity
• sequencing activity
• what's missing activity
• match printed sentences to the corresponding picture
• yes/no questions activity
• wh- and how questions activity
• preparing to act out the story activity

Day two routine is:

• sing the Matt and Molly theme song
• story review activity
• act out the story
• anticipate the next story activity

Students learn 60 vocabulary words and concepts based on the theme of animals in these story titles:

• A Frog in the Tree
• Catch That Rabbit!
• A Very Cold Dog
• Feeding a Duck
• One Cold Fish
• Come Down, Monkey!
• A Mouse in My House
• The Hungry Cat

COMPLETE PROGRAM INCLUDES:17-page manual, 32 8½" x 11" story cards, 9 perforated sheets with large print sentences and question flash cards, vinyl folder. (©1998).