Wave your hand and smile like a carnival host.
Card 11
Dizzy Carousel
Read with a swirling, slightly dizzy voice!
"Round and round and round we spin on the glittering golden horses!"
Sway your head in a small circle!
Card 12
The Big Finish
Build your voice up to a spectacular bow!
"Thank you! Thank you! What a glorious and truly magical night!"
Take a grand bow after saying this!
Cut along the dotted lines to make individual cards for reading stations or partner work!
Big Top Fluency Toolkit • Ringmaster Teacher Guide • Page 1
Passages 1 to 4 with Cumulative Word Counts
Teacher Copies
Level A • Passage 1 Goal: 20-30 WPM
See the big tent. [4]
See the red tent. [8]
I see a clown. [12]
The clown is happy. [16]
I see a balloon. [20]
The balloon is yellow. [24]
Look at the fun tent! [29]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level A • Passage 2 Goal: 20-30 WPM
Look at the balloon. [4]
It is a big red balloon. [10]
It can fly high. [14]
Fly high, red balloon! [18]
See the balloon go up. [23]
It is so fun to watch! [29]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level B • Passage 3 Goal: 40-60 WPM
Hear the corn pop! Pop, pop, pop. [7]
The yellow kernels dance in the hot pot. [15]
Smells of salty butter fill the warm air. [23]
We stand in a long line to buy a bag. [32]
The hot bag sits in my hands. [39]
It is warm and salty. [44]
I love a fresh, loud crunch. [50]
This is the best treat at the carnival! [58]
Let us share the big snack with [65]
our friendly group. [67]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level B • Passage 4 Goal: 40-60 WPM
See the funny clown! He has a [6]
bright red nose. He wears giant blue [12]
shoes that go squeak, squeak. He [18]
drops his yellow balls on the green [25]
grass. Oops! He makes a silly face [32]
and falls down. We all laugh and [39]
clap our hands. He waves his big [46]
hat and runs to get a sweet snack. [54]
What a fun day at the circus! [61]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Big Top Fluency Toolkit • Ringmaster Teacher Guide • Page 2
Passages 5 to 8 with Cumulative Word Counts
Teacher Copies
Level C • Passage 5 Goal: 70-90 WPM
Click, clack, click! The shiny red [6]
coaster climbs up the steep, wooden hill. [13]
I hold my sister's hand tightly as we [21]
look down at the tiny carnival tents below. [29]
The wind whispers in my ears. We reach the [38]
very top. For a second, everything is [45]
completely still. [47]
Then, zoom! We swoosh down the huge [54]
track like a rocket. My hair blows wildly, [62]
and everyone screams with joy. Loop-de-loop [68]
we go, flying through the warm summer air. [76]
That was the fastest ride of my life! [84]
I cannot wait to go again. [90]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level C • Passage 6 Goal: 70-90 WPM
Slowly, the giant wheel turns under the [7]
bright blue sky. My friend and I step into [16]
the small swing seat. Click! The metal bar [24]
locks us in safely. Up, up, up we ride! [32]
The people on the ground look as small as [41]
tiny ants. We stop at the very top of [50]
the wheel. The cool wind gently sways our [58]
seat, and we can see the entire carnival. [66]
There is the noisy rollercoaster, and there is [74]
the sweet cotton candy booth. Soon, we [81]
glide softly back down to the ground. That [89]
was a wonderful, peaceful ride. [95]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level D • Passage 7 Goal: 90-110 WPM
Step inside the mysterious violet tent and [7]
prepare to be amazed! The marvelous magician [13]
wears a glittering top hat and a long, [20]
swirling cape. He waves a polished wooden wand [28]
over an empty cardboard box. "Abracadabra!" he [34]
declares with a wide, dramatic grin. [40]
Suddenly, a fluffy white rabbit pops its head [48]
out, twitching its pink nose. The crowd gasps [55]
and bursts into loud applause. Next, he makes [62]
colorful silk scarves disappear into thin air and [70]
pulls shiny gold coins from behind a boy's [77]
ear. It feels like real magic under the [85]
twinkling lights. How does he do these spectacular [92]
tricks? I stare closely, hoping to catch the [100]
secret, but his hands move swifter than [106]
lightning. The carnival is truly a place [113]
where wonder comes alive. [117]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Level D • Passage 8 Goal: 90-110 WPM
Step right up and try your luck at the ring [10]
toss! A row of glass bottles stands tall on [19]
a wooden table, shining under the afternoon [26]
sun. For just one token, the friendly host [34]
hands you three plastic rings. "Aim carefully [41]
and toss smoothly!" he says with an winking [48]
smile. I grip the first red ring, take a [57]
steady breath, and flip my wrist. It misses [65]
completely, bouncing off the table with a [72]
soft thud. I adjust my stance for the [80]
second try, aiming for a blue bottle in the [89]
center. Whoosh! The ring spins through the [96]
air and slides perfectly over the bottle's [103]
neck. "We have a winner!" shouts the host. [111]
Practicing my focus really paid off today! [118]
Cold WCPM: _____ Hot WCPM: _____
Big Top Fluency Toolkit • Ringmaster Teacher Guide • Page 3
