Theme-Based Stories

The resources on this page are free hi-lo readers organized to parallel the theme-based vocabulary units. Typically, instructors/tutors should lay vocabulary groundwork before introducing learners to these stories. The stories are a continuation of vocabulary acquisition plus a bridge toward meaning-making with text. The stories are a compilation of readers created by the Pathway to Literacy team or adapted from stories produced by Literacy Minnesota, Bow Valley School of Global Access, We Speak NYC, and CIWA. 

 Overview of Approach

The scaffolded reading approach, which is outlined below, is used with learners in the classroom.

Day 1:

• Introduce the story with pictures/background 

• Read the story aloud to the learners (don’t show the words)

• Ask Yes/No comprehension questions

Day 2:

• Read the story aloud to the learners (show the words)

• Read the story again, with students repeating (echo reading)

• Read numbered sentence(s) from the story - students identify which # sentence you're reading

• Ask wh- comprehension questions

Day 3:

• Read the story all together (choral reading)

• Have students read a word or sentence, depending on their level

• Ask personalized questions for learners based on the story

To this approach demonstrated, watch the Recording Classroom Assistant Training (1.5-hour video). 

Printable formats will be added as they become available!   In the interim, story slides can be modified and printed for in person classes.  

HEALTH Stories

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level A)

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level B/C)

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level D)

• Jen Gets a Check-up Printables

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level A)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level B/C)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level D)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor Printables

• Amir Gets Sick (Bow Valley)

• Jiadeep's Big Fall (Bow Valley)

• Mr. Smith is Sick (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith is Sick Printables

• Hurt At School (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Hurt at School Printables

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level B/C) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level D) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic Printables

FOOD Stories

• Emma Makes Soup (Level A)

• Emma Makes Soup (Level B/C)

• Emma Makes Soup (Level D)

• Emma Makes Soup Printables

• Deb Sets the Table (Level A) 

• Deb Sets the Table (Level B/C)

• Deb Sets the Table (Level D)

• Deb Sets the Table Printables 

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level A)

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level B/C)

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level D) 

• The Restaurant Kitchen Printables

• Benjamin's Garden (Level A)

• Benjamin's Garden (Level B/C)

• Benjamin's Garden (Level D)

• Benjamin's Garden Printables

• Mary's Garden (Level A)

• Mary's Garden (Level B/C)

• Mary's Garden (Level D)

• Mary's Garden Printables

• Lien Buys Food  (Bow Valley)

• Lien Goes Shopping  (Bow Valley)

• Food from Home  (Bow Valley)

FINANCIAL LITERACY Stories

• A Lot of Shoes (Level A)

• A Lot of Shoes (Level B/C)

• A Lot of Shoes (Level D)

• A Lot of Shoes with Math  (Level D) 

• A Lot of Shoes Printables

• Ben Pays Bills (Level A)

• Ben Pays Bills (Level B/C)

• Ben Pays Bills (Level D)

• Ben Pays Bills Printables

• A Bike for Sara (Level A)

• A Bike for Sara (Level B/C) 

• A Bike for Sara (Level D)

• A Bike for Sara Printables

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level A)

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level B/C)

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level D)

• Luna Buys Insurance Printables

• Samuel Saves (Level A)

• Samuel  Saves (Level B/C)

• Samuel Saves (Level D)

• Samuel Saves with Math (Level D)

• Samuel Saves Printables

• Spending Too Much Money (Level D) (Bow Valley)

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level A)

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level B/C) 

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level D)

• Uma Goes to the Bank Printables 

COMMUNITY Stories

• Maria's Errands (Level A) 

• Maria's Errands (Level B/C)

• Maria's Errands (Level D)

• Anna Takes A Walk (Level A) 

• Anna Takes a Walk (Level B/C)

• Anna Takes a Walk (Level D)

• Places in the City (Level A)

• Places in the City (Level B/C)

• Places in the City (Level D)

• Andres Needs Gas (Bow Valley)

• Mursal on the Bus (Bow Valley)

• Prepositions & Adjectives

DAILY LIFE Stories

• Mo and Sam in the Morning (Level A)

• Pam Makes Tea

• Jan's Work Day  

• A Day with Grandpa

• New To Indianapolis  

EMPLOYMENT Stories

• Ade Gets A Job 

• Inge Cuts Hair (Bow Valley)

• Fatima Gets A Job 

SUCCESS AT WORK Stories

• Jobs at Home (Level A)

• Jobs at Home (Level B/C)

• Jobs at Home (Level D)

• Feza is a Homemaker (Level A)

• Fatima Gets a Job (Level A)

• Tom’s First Day (Level A)

• Tom’s First Day (Level B)

• Tom’s First Day (Level C)

• Tom’s First Day (Level D)

• Trouble at Work (Level A)

• Trouble at Work (Level B/C)

• Trouble at Work (Level D)

• Who Works There? (Level A)

• Who Works There? (Level B-C) 

• Ade Applies for a Job (Level D)

• Nat Gets a Job (Level A)

• Nat Gets A Job (Level B)

• Nat Gets a Job  (Level C)

• Nat Gets a Job  (Level D)

• Help at Work  (Level A)

• Help at Work (Level B/C)

• Help at Work (Level D)

• My Job (Level A) 

HEALTHCARE Stories

• Ken Works Out (Level A)

• Ken Works out (Level B/C)

• Ken Works out (Level D)

• I Go to the Pharmacy (Level A)

• I Go to the Pharmacy (Level B/C) 

• 9-1-1 Emergency (Level A)

• 9-1-1 Emergency (Level B/C)

• At the Dentist (Level A)

• Eye Exam (Level A)

• Eye Exam (Level B/C)

• Mark Goes to the Dentist (Bow Valley)  

• My Daughter is Sick (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• My Daughter is Sick (Level B/C) (Literacy MN)

• My Daughter is Sick (Level D) (Literacy MN)

HOUSING Stories

• An Apartment for Two  

• A New Table 

• Perminder's Cleaning Day (Bow Valley)

• Washing Machine Repair

• Leaky Pipe

SCHOOL/EDUCATION Stories

• What We Do in School (Level A)

• What We Do in School (Level B/C)

• What We Do in School (Level D) 

• School on Zoom (Level A)

• School on Zoom (Level B/C)

• School on Zoom (Level D) 

• Ready for School (Level A)

• Ready for School (Level B/C)

• Ready for School (Level D) 

• How Much Money? 

• Meet the Teacher (Level A)

• Meet the Teacher (Level B/C)

• Meet the Teacher (Level D)

• Parent Teacher Conference (Level D)

• Deng Starts School (Level A) (Bow Valley)

• Deng Starts School (Level B) (Bow Valley)

• Sado Goes to School (Level A)

• Sado Goes to School (Level C)

• Mursal’s Trip to School (Level D) (Bow Valley)

CLOTHING / SHOPPING Stories

• A New Shirt  (Level A)

• A New Shirt  (Level B/C)

• A New Shirt  (Level D)

• Colors at the Store  (Level A)

• Colors at the Store  (Level B/C)

• Colors at the Store (Level D)

• Anna Buys Soap  (Level A)

• Anna Buys Soap  (Level B/C)

• Anna Buys Soap (Level D) 

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level A)

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level B/C)

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level D)

• Maria Goes Shopping Printables 

FAMILY Stories

• The Badu Family (Level A)

• The Badu Family (Level B/C)

• The Badu Family (Level D)

• My Daughter Is Sick (Level A)

• My Daughter Is Sick (Level B-D)

• The Badu Family Eats Dinner

• The Family Dinner (Level A)

• The Family Dinner (Levels B/C)

• The Family Dinner (Level D)

• The Family Dinner Printables

• What We Do in School (Level B/C)

Additional Sources of Reading Materials

• ESL Literacy Readers by Bow Valley College 

• LESLLA List of Reading Materials & Curriculum Resources

• Literacy Minnesota Readers

• Free Online Reading and Listening Resources for Adult ESL students (Literacy MN)