Greenhouse Guest Fluency PassageGrade: 3 Lexile® Measure: 500L - 600L Mean Sentence Length: 9.45 Mean Log Word Frequency: 3.68 Word Count: 397 The Greenhouse Guest Young Toby loved visiting his aunt’s plant nursery on Saturday mornings. Aunt Clara grew every kind of flower you could imagine. She had bright yellow marigolds, tall purple irises, and sweet-smelling honeysuckle along the fence. Everyone in town came to buy her healthy plants. Still, Toby loved the big glass greenhouse most of all. It was always warm, green, and fragrant. Toby liked to pretend it was a secret indoor jungle. One chilly autumn morning, Toby walked into the greenhouse. He expected to hear only the soft drip of water from the overhead sprinklers. Instead, he heard a faint fluttering sound near the watering cans. Toby tiptoed across the damp stone floor. He held his breath so he would not make any noise. Slowly, he peeked behind a tall stack of terracotta pots. Sitting on the cold floor was a tiny brown robin. The little bird had a bright orange chest, but its feathers were ruffled. One wing drooped down against the stones. Toby felt his chest tighten with worry. He had never held a wild creature before. Would it try to flutter away? Would it be frightened of him? Toby knelt down slowly onto the floor. “Hello there, little friend,” he whispered gently. “Are you hurt?” The robin tilted its small head. It looked right at Toby with two round, glossy eyes. It did not flutter away. Instead, it let out a quiet, whistling chirp that sounded almost like a sigh. Toby carefully took off his cozy wool scarf. He gently scooped the shivering bird into the warm cloth. The creature felt as light as a pinecone in his hands. Toby stood up with great care, trying not to jostle his delicate bundle. He hurried toward the counter where Aunt Clara was sorting seed packets. “Aunt Clara, look what I found behind the pots!” Toby called breathlessly. Aunt Clara peered into the scarf, and her face softened into a warm smile. “Good eyes, Toby,” she said. “The poor thing must have flown through the roof vent. It just needs warmth and rest.” Together, they placed the robin inside a shoebox lined with soft towels. Aunt Clara offered it a dropper of cool water and a dish of plump berries. The robin took two eager sips. Then it fluffed its feathers and tucked its beak against its wing. Toby smiled, knowing his feathered friend was finally safe. Oral Reading Fluency Record Target: 90–120 WCPM Trial Read 1 Trial Read 2 Trial Read 3 Goal Met □ Yes □ No Words: _____ • Errors: _____ • WCPM: _____ Words: _____ • Errors: _____ • WCPM: _____ Words: _____ • Errors: _____ • WCPM: _____
Greenhouse Guest Question GuideTeacher Oral Assessment Guide The Greenhouse Guest • Comprehension Check Grade 3 • Lexile® 500L–600L • Oral Reading Fluency & Skill Probes Target ORF: 90–120 WCPM Comp. Score: _____ / 10 pts Student: ____________________ Date: ____________ ORF Time: ___ sec WCPM: ______ Oral Comprehension Questions (Ask Student After Reading) Score: 2 = Full • 1 = Partial / Prompted • 0 = Incorrect 1 Key Details • RL.3.1 □ 2 □ 1 □ 0 “Where was the robin when Toby found it, and what was it sitting behind?” Acceptable: On the cold stone floor, behind a tall stack of terracotta (clay) pots. Prompt: “Where in the greenhouse did Toby look after hearing the fluttering sound?” 2 Vocabulary in Context • RL.3.4 □ 2 □ 1 □ 0 “The story says the greenhouse was ‘fragrant.’ What does fragrant mean, and what made it smell that way?” Acceptable: Sweet-smelling or pleasant; the flowers (marigolds, irises, honeysuckle) made it fragrant. Prompt: “Think about what grows in the greenhouse. How would all those flowers smell?” 3 Inference • RL.3.1 □ 2 □ 1 □ 0 “Why was the robin unable to fly away when Toby knelt down beside it?” Acceptable: Its wing drooped/was hurt, it was shivering with cold, and it had flown through the vent and was exhausted. Prompt: “What did Toby notice about the bird’s wing and body?” 4 Character Actions • RL.3.3 □ 2 □ 1 □ 0 “How did Toby show care and gentleness toward the bird? Name two things he did.” Acceptable (Any 2): Whispered softly; wrapped it in his warm wool scarf; carried it without jostling; made a cozy shoebox with towels, berries, and water. Prompt: “What did Toby take off his neck to keep the bird warm?” 5 Central Message • RL.3.2 □ 2 □ 1 □ 0 “What is the main message or lesson of this story?” Acceptable: Small acts of patience and kindness help living creatures in need; paying attention to our surroundings allows us to help. Prompt: “How did Toby feel when he saw the robin was safe? What did he learn?” Proficient (8–10 pts) Accurate literal recall, precise inferences, and clear understanding of story theme. Developing (5–7 pts) Recalls basic plot details; requires prompting for vocabulary in context or deeper inference. Needs Support (0–4 pts) Struggles with recall. Reteach with guided choral re-reading and text-evidence pointing. Teacher Notes / Observations: __________________________________________________________________________
Greenhouse Guest Question WorksheetName: Date: Score: / 10 The Greenhouse Guest • Comprehension Check Grade 3 Reading Read each question carefully. Use evidence from the story to answer in complete sentences. 1. Where was the robin hiding when Toby first discovered it? A High up on a wooden roof rafter B Inside a blue watering can C Behind a stack of terracotta pots D Under Aunt Clara’s seed counter 2. In paragraph 1, the author writes that the greenhouse was “fragrant.” What does the word fragrant mean? A Cold and drafty B Pleasant and sweet-smelling C Extremely crowded D Noisy and buzzing 3. Why was the little robin unable to fly away when Toby knelt down beside it? Give two reasons from the text. 4. Describe two specific things Toby did to keep the robin calm and warm. 5. What important lesson does this story teach about showing kindness to living creatures in need? Self-Check: □ Capital letters & periods □ Evidence from the story Greenhouse Guest • Grade 3 Fluency & Comprehension
