This is a short story that can be used for either a writing or reading center in grades K-1. Skills include: Repeated readings, handwriting practice, sequence of events, and speaking (comprehension and collaboration).

Directions: Prepare a folder for the center with one copy of each page of the story. Instruct each student to choose one page only. Each student will practice handwriting by tracing the letters on their page. When students are finished, they can read their part to one another and put the story in order. The page numbers can then be added by the students following their discussion. The students can then read the entire story aloud to each other.

I have facilitated this center with kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade ESL students. Kindergarten students will benefit most from handwriting practice and learning new words. They may need guidance from the teacher in order to put the pages in sequence. They will also benefit from repeated readings to build fluency. The first graders I worked with were able to put the story in sequence, but required practice to read with accuracy and appropriate expression. The older ESL students had no trouble reading, but for some reason took just as much time as younger students when they were tracing the letters.

Most importantly-all of the groups had fun reading the finished story together!