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Solutions for Success: Children’s Literature Springboard is an online list of recommended children’s books correlated to HiTech Test Prep by text structure. These books demonstrate the strength that our comprehension strategies bring to every reading program. Springboard books are available for direct purchase. Stop wasting time looking for “just the right book.” The listed quality literature saves hours of time by providing exciting titles and FREE, useful, ready-to-use activities. Click your desired grade level below to see our recommended notable authors and titles.

Summer in the City Comprehension Activities

FREE Summer in the City Comprehension Activities

2nd Grade

The Little Pine Tree

Narrative Selection Genre: Traditional Literature, Fairy Tale Word Count: 323 Sample Pages (PDF) A little pine tree wishes for leaves rather than pine needles. The little pine tree wakes to find that a fairy grants its wish. Soon the little pine tree discovers that the ultimate wish is to learn to be happy with yourself.

Summary Chart (PDF)	Summary & Cloze Activity (PDF)
Summary Chart (PDF)
Summary Chart (PDF)

A Jacket for Allison

Expository Selection Genre: Informational, Newspaper Article Word Count 481 Sample Pages (PDF) This newspaper article tells about an amazing sea turtle named Allison. Allison lives at Sea Turtle Incorporated. A group of volunteers use a new idea to help Allison swim again. Read this article to find out how this incredible little turtle beat the odds.

Winter's Tail Vocabulary Activity (PDF)	Vocabulary Activity (PDF)
	Summary Chart (PDF)

A Picture for Friends

Mixed Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction, Dialogue in script Word Count 373 Sample Pages (PDF) In this story Zach, Ricky and Rene discuss their summer visit during a videophone conversation. Zack makes sure Ricky and Rene got a special picture he mailed to them. The selection is written in script and offers students a unique way to read about how kids communicate and share friendship.

Summary Chart (PDF)

Summary & Cloze Activity (PDF)

Summary & Cloze Activity (PDF)

3rd Grade

The Beetle-Mania Field Trip

Narrative Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction Word Count 699 Sample Pages (PDF) In this narrative, a young girl named Kathy wants to like living on her new cattle ranch. The rainy weather and the fact that she hasn’t made friends make her feel lonely. Little did Kathy suspect that finding a beetle would lead to friendship and appreciation for her new cattle ranch.

Thinking Guide & Summary (PDF)

Thinking Guide & Summary (PDF)

Sleepy ZZZZZZ

Expository Selection Genre: Informational, Magazine Article Word Count 690 Sample Pages (PDF) This magazine article tells about the unique ways various animals sleep. Read this article to learn information about how some animals sleep. This selection gives teachers an opportunity to teach important comprehension strategies involved in expository text. Correlated graphic organizers include color-coded charts to teach clustering of main ideas to produce a meaningful summary.

The Roswell UFO

Mixed Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction, Journal Entry Word Count 771 Sample Pages (PDF) In this journal entry, Marsha writes about her visit to Roswell, New Mexico. This descriptive narrative tells that she learned the crash may not have been a real UFO, but it brought a lot of excitement to the town of Roswell and her family vacation.

4th Grade

Puppy Problems

Narrative Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction Word Count 703 Sample Pages (PDF) In this story, problems with some very playful puppies teach Griffen a valuable lesson about listening and following his father’s directions carefully.

Thinking Guide & Activity (PDF)

Big Beetle Buzz!

Expository Selection Genre: Informational, Internet Article Word Count 641 Sample Pages (PDF) This internet article intentionally taps into the media literacy arena showing how students can use words, images, and graphics to derive meaning and learn about a common but elusive insect, the ox beetle. This web-based article gives teachers an opportunity to teach the academic language unique to internet articles. This selection may also be used as a paired selection with Herman the Beetle.

Herman the Beetle

Mixed Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction, Descriptive Narrative Word Count 648 Sample Pages (PDF) In her journal, Brealan writes about a strange discovery that becomes her family pet. In this descriptive narrative Brealan learns that her new pet has an important role in the environment. This selection gives teachers an opportunity to teach the academic language unique to journal entries. This selection may also be used as a paired selection with Big Beetle Buzz.

5th Grade

Successful Ballerina

Narrative Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction Word Count 578 Sample Pages (PDF) In this narrative, Laurie wants to be part of the group ballerinas for the school ballet. But, she lacks confidence and has a friend who is less than supportive. Lucky for Laurie, her mother has words of advice that take her to success beyond her own dreams. This selection offers a strong storyline with a touch of friendship rivalry that appeals to this grade level. It may also be used as a paired selection with Hard Work Leads to Success.

Hard Work Leads to Success

Expository Selection Genre: Informational, Newspaper Article Word Count 754 Sample Pages (PDF) This biography is set in a newspaper article. Meet real-life artist Larry West and learn about his unique style of art and the hard work that lead to his success. This selection gives teachers an opportunity to teach the academic language unique to biographies in a straightforward lesson that demonstrates how authors use their craft to convey information through expository text. This selection may also be used as a paired selection with Successful Ballerina.

A Home to the North

Mixed Selection Genre: Realistic Fiction, Descriptive Narrative Word Count 733 Sample Pages (PDF) In this story, Jeremy describes his adventurous journey to the Inupiaq home of his aunt and uncle. This descriptive narrative is literary nonfiction written to inform young readers about a unique way of life in Nome, Alaska. Rich cultural language and limited dialogue demonstrate one of the varied structural patterns writers use to tell a story with craft.