Front Trackers Worksheet Sound Detectives • Case 01
Front Trackers Reading Passage
Focus: Initial /th/ & /r/
Level: Early Grade 3 (Fall)
Detective:
Date:
Partner:
The Thunder River Rally
118 Words • Word Count [ ]
[16] Thirty red rafts rested by the riverbank . Theo tied a rugged rope to his raft. His friend Ruth checked their radios .
[48] The clouds began to rumble with thunder . "Think fast!" shouted Theo. "The water is running fast. These rapids are wild today, so grab your paddles!" Their team dashed forward with a thrilling cheer.
[85] Theo and Ruth sped into the rushing water. Big rocks rose from the foam, but Theo pushed the rudder to turn left. "Go through the gap!" Ruth called out. Their raft glided smoothly past the rocks.
[118] Sunlight shone through the mist near the finish. With three strong strokes, they raced across the line in third place! "That was great!" Ruth laughed happily.
1-Minute Fluency Timing
Goal: 70-80 WCPM
Read Words Read Errors Words Correct 1st Try ______ ______ ______ 2nd Try ______ ______ ______
Beginning Sound Detective Tally
Initial /th/ words found:
Initial /r/ words found:
Early Grade 3 Edition • Page 1 of 2 • Turn over for Word Sort and Questions
Sound Detectives • Case 01 Clue Sheet
Word Sort & Story Clues
Page 2 of 2
1 Beginning Sound Word Sort
Sort the words from the Word Bank into the two columns below.
thunder raft thirty river three running think rocks
Words that start with /th/
Words that start with /r/
2 Story Clue Questions
Look back at "The Thunder River Rally" on page 1. Answer in full sentences.
1. What sound did Theo and Ruth hear in the sky before the race started?
2. How did Theo steer the raft away from the big rocks in the river?
3. In what place did their raft cross the finish line?
Teacher Check: ☐ Phonics Word Sort (8 pts) ☐ Comprehension (6 pts) ☐ Fluency WCPM
Score: _______ / 14
Front Trackers Practice Worksheet Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 01
Front Trackers Practice Worksheet
Skill: Beginning Sounds
Level: Early Grade 3
Detective:
Date:
Badge:
1 Sound Pair Detective Check
Say each pair of words aloud. Circle the word that starts with the target sound!
Circle the /th/ word (Tongue between teeth)
[ thin ] or [ fin ]
[ three ] or [ free ]
[ think ] or [ fink ]
Circle the /r/ word (Tongue pulled back)
[ ring ] or [ wing ]
[ red ] or [ wed ]
[ run ] or [ won ]
2 Sound Clue Match
Read each clue. Pick the matching word from the Word Bank and write it on the blank.
thunder rescue thirty rapids
A. A rumbling boom in the sky during a rainstorm:
B. Very fast, bumpy river water flowing over rocks:
C. To help or save someone in danger:
D. The number that comes right after twenty-nine:
Early Grade 3 Skill Lab • Page 1 of 2 • Flip to complete Sentences and Writing Front Trackers Practice
Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 01 Page 2
Sentence Clues & Mini Mystery
Page 2 of 2
3 Complete the Clue Sentences
Choose a word from the box to finish each sentence.
thick river think red
Theo rowed the bright raft into the water.
Always stop and before making a big jump.
The raft moved swiftly down the deep mountain .
Ruth tied the raft with a strong, rope.
4 Write Your Own Clue Sentences
Write 2 sentences about a river adventure. Use at least one /th/ word and one /r/ word . Underline your sound words!
Word ideas: three, think, thunder, red, rope, raft, run, river
Sentence 1:
Sentence 2:
Checklist: ☐ Minimal Pairs (6 pts) ☐ Clues (4 pts) ☐ Sentences & Writing (6 pts)
Score: _______ / 16
Core Caboose Worksheet Sound Detectives • Case 02
Core & Caboose Reading Passage
Focus: Medial & Final /th/ & /r/
Level: Early Grade 3 (Fall)
Detective:
Date:
Partner:
The Secret of Amber Marsh
114 Words • Word Count [ ]
[18] Arthur and his brother walked on the narrow path . The chilly fall weather turned their breath into white clouds.
[48] "Look near that tall birch tree," his brother whispered. A hawk sat on a high branch . Its soft feathers blew gently in the wind. Beside them, the calm water shone like a silver mirror .
[84] Under the dark earth , Arthur saw a tiny shine. He brushed the mud away and found a bronze badge shaped like a bright star . A crane cried out with a loud roar across the marsh.
[114] "We must gather our clues," Arthur said. "The mystery is finally clear ." They walked down the path safely back together .
1-Minute Fluency Timing
Goal: 70-80 WCPM
Trial Words Read Errors Words Correct 1st Try ______ ______ ______ 2nd Try ______ ______ ______
Sound Detective Clue Words
Middle /th/: bro • ther / wea • ther
Ending /th/: pa • th / ear • th
Ending /r/: sta • r / roa • r
Early Grade 3 Edition • Page 1 of 2 • Flip over for Syllable Division and Story Clues
Sound Detectives • Case 02 Clue Sheet
Syllable Division & Story Clues
Page 2 of 2
1 Syllable Division Clues
Break each word into syllables with a slash ( / ). The first one is done for you!
Word Divided Syllables Where is the sound? 1. feather fea / ther Middle /th/ 2. mirror Middle & End /r/ 3. brother
Core Caboose Practice Worksheet Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 02
Core Caboose Practice Worksheet
Skill: Middle & Ending Sounds
Level: Early Grade 3
Detective:
Date:
Badge:
1 Syllable Word Builder
Join the two syllables to make the whole word. Then check if the special sound is in the Middle or at the End .
Syllable 1 + Syllable 2 Built Word Where is the sound? wea + ther weather Middle /th/ fea + ther Middle / End bro + ther Middle / End mir + ror Middle / End
2 Middle or Ending Sound Sort
Read each word from the bank. Write it under the matching sound column.
brother path star feather earth roar
Middle /th/ (Core)
Ending /th/ (Caboose)
Ending /r/ (Caboose)
Early Grade 3 Skill Lab • Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Cloze Mystery & Sentence Check Core Caboose Practice
Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 02 Page 2
Mystery Paragraph & Sentence Fixer
Page 2 of 2
3 Marsh Clue Mystery Paragraph
Use the words from the bank to fill in each blank.
earth weather path star
Arthur walked down the dirt (1) into the quiet trees. The autumn (2) was cold and windy. Under the dark (3), he dug up a bronze medal shaped like an ancient (4).
4 Detective Sentence Fixer
Each sentence has one sound mistake. Find the misspelled word and rewrite the sentence correctly below.
1. "The cold wedder made the boys shiver."
Correct sentence:
2. "We followed the forest paf back to camp."
Correct sentence:
Checklist: ☐ Syllable Builder (4 pts) ☐ Position Sort (6 pts) ☐ Mystery Sentences (6 pts)
Total Score: _______ / 16
Sound Sleuths Worksheet Sound Detectives • Case 03 (Capstone)
Sound Sleuths Reading Passage
Focus: Mixed /th/ & /r/ Positions
Level: Early Grade 3 (Fall)
Detective:
Date:
Partner:
The Whispering Theater Mystery
124 Words • Word Count [ ]
[18] Martha and Arthur crept past the red velvet curtains into the theater . Three lamps hung from the wooden rafters .
[52] "Listen closely," whispered Arthur, holding his breath . A rustle echoed from the fourth row. Their light shone on an old notebook on a leather chair. The famous author had hidden a secret here thirty years ago!
[88] "Look through these pages," Martha said. "The bronze feather is buried under the northern stage in the damp earth ." They lifted a loose board and found a metal box.
[124] Inside was a medal with an eagle in mid-roar . "The truth is clear!" shouted Martha. Both detectives were thrilled to solve their mystery.
Fluency Growth Timing
Goal: 75-85 WCPM
Attempt Words Read Errors Words Correct Attempt 1 ______ ______ ______ Attempt 2 ______ ______ ______ Attempt 3 ______ ______ ______
Partner Expression Check (1-3 ★)
Expression & Feelings: ★ ★ ★
Phrasing (Chunk words): ★ ★ ★
Pace (Not too fast or slow): ★ ★ ★
Early Grade 3 Edition • Page 1 of 2 • Flip to complete Sound Grid and Story Questions
Sound Detectives • Case 03 Clue Sheet
Sound Grid & Mystery Questions
Page 2 of 2
1 Detective Sound Word Grid
Find one word from the story for each box in the grid. Write it on the line.
Sound Start of Word Middle of Word End of Word
Sound Sleuths Teacher Guide Sound Detectives • Teacher Facilitation Guide
Sound Sleuths Teacher Guide
Level: Early Grade 3 (Beginning of Year / Fall)
Standards: CCSS RF.3.3 & RF.3.4
Articulation Focus
/th/ : Interdental tongue protrusion ("tongue sandwich")./r/ : Bunched tongue; prevent lip rounding into /w/.
Early Gr 3 Fall Norms
Emergent: 50–65 WCPMOn-Level Target: 70–80 WCPMAdvanced: 90+ WCPM (95%+ acc)
Passage Counts
Case 01: 118 words (Initial)
Master Answer Key: Lessons 1 & 2 (Early Grade 3)
Case 01: Front Trackers ("The Thunder River Rally" & Practice) Lesson 1 Keys
Passage Worksheet: Word Sort: /th/ words (thunder, thirty, three, think); /r/ words (raft, river, running, rocks).Comprehension: 1. Thunder rumbling in the sky. 2. He pushed the rudder to steer left. 3. Third place.
Practice Worksheet: Minimal Pairs: 1. thin; 2. three; 3. think; 4. ring; 5. red; 6. run.Clue Match: A. thunder; B. rapids; C. rescue; D. thirty.Sentences: 1. red; 2. think; 3. river; 4. thick.
Case 02: Core Caboose ("The Secret of Amber Marsh" & Practice) Lesson 2 Keys
Passage Worksheet: Syllables: feather (fea/ther), mirror (mir/ror), brother (bro/ther), weather (wea/ther).Comprehension: 1. A bronze badge shaped like a star. 2. Turned their breath to white clouds. 3. A crane's call.
Practice Worksheet: Word Builder: weather (Middle), feather (Middle), brother (Middle), mirror (Middle & End).Position Sort: Middle /th/ (brother, feather); Ending /th/ (path, earth); Ending /r/ (star, roar).Cloze: (1) path, (2) weather, (3) earth, (4) star. Fixes: weather, path.
Early Grade 3 Edition • Page 1 of 2 • Turn over for Lesson 3 Key & Intervention Routines Sound Detectives Curriculum
Sound Detectives • Diagnostic & Assessment Guide
Lesson 3 Keys & Early Grade 3 Interventions
Page 2 of 2
Case 03: Sound Sleuths ("The Whispering Theater Mystery" & Drills) Lesson 3 Keys
Passage Worksheet:
Sound Sleuths Drill Worksheet Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 03
Sound Sleuths Drill Worksheet
Skill: Rapid Naming & Proofreading
Level: Early Grade 3
Detective:
Date:
Partner:
1 60-Second Word Speed Grid
Read across each row as fast and clearly as you can. Your partner tracks how many words you read in 1 minute!
three
red
theater
raft
fourth
breath
roar
think
truth
mirror
thirty
running
through
brother
leather
feather
north
earth
river
star
gather
weather
steer
together
floor
clear
timber
path
rescue
these
Round 1 Words Read: ______ / 30
Round 2 Words Read: ______ / 30
Round 3 (Best) Words Read: ______ / 30
2 Syllable Count Detective
Clap the syllables in each word. Write 1 , 2 , or 3 syllables on the line.
the • a • ter ______ syllables
bro • ther ______ syllables
earth ______ syllables
to • geth • er ______ syllables
Early Grade 3 Skill Lab • Page 1 of 2 • Turn over to complete Proofreading & Case Report Sound Sleuths Drills
Sound Detectives • Skill Lab 03 Page 2
Proofreading & Case Report
Page 2 of 2
3 Detective Proofreading Check
This clue note has 4 misspelled sound words. Circle the mistakes and write the correct words on the blanks.
"Meet me at the old theader on Tursday . Bring the bronze feader you dug from the eart ."
1. theader → theater
2. Tursday → Thursday
3. feader →
4. eart →
4 Detective Case Conclusion
Write 2 sentences explaining how Arthur and Martha solved the mystery. Pick at least two words from the Word Bank!
three truth earth feather together
Sentence 1:
Sentence 2:
