Word Wizards Lesson Plan Word Wizards: Decoding & Drafting
Master Lesson Plan
Foundational literacy skills for early readers and writers.
Why This Matters
Developing these foundational literacy skills is crucial for students to become confident readers and writers. This lesson provides explicit, targeted instruction to address individual learning needs and build a strong base for future academic success.
Details
Time: 3 weeks, 12 sessions (30m each)Audience: Tier 2 Small Group (K-1st Grade)Approach: Direct instruction & interactive practice
Preparation Steps (60 minutes)
Review all materials: Slide Deck, Script, Worksheets, Passages, and Assessments.
Print and cut out high-frequency word cards and decoding game cards.
Prepare sentence strips for the sentence composition activity.
Gather pencils, paper, and whiteboard markers.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to identify and use high-frequency words, compose simple sentences with correct spacing and punctuation, form uppercase and lowercase letters, decode various word patterns (VC, CVC, CCVC, CVCC), and begin to draft stories orally, pictorially, or in written form.
Week 1: High-Frequency Words & Letter Formation
Session 1: Intro to Words & Letters
Warm-Up (5 min): Use Daily Warm-Up Cards focusing on letter sounds.
HF Word Introduction (10 min): Introduce 3-5 words (the, and, a) using Slide Deck. Practice sounding out and sight recognition.
Letter Formation (10 min): Model correct uppercase/lowercase formation. Students practice on worksheets with feedback.
Cool-Down (5 min): "What was one new word you learned today?"
Session 2: Spacing & Composition
Warm-Up (5 min): Review previous HF words.
Sentence Spacing (15 min): Teach importance of spacing between words. Students compose sentences orally. Introduce Sentence Scramble Worksheet.
Letter Review (5 min): Quick practice of challenging letters.
Cool-Down (5 min): Students write one sentence with a HF word and proper spacing.
Session 3: Decoding & Punctuation
Warm-Up (5 min): Focus on blending sounds.
Decoding VC/CVC (10 min): Introduce decoding using Slide Deck and Game Cards. Model blending.
Punctuation (10 min): Introduce periods and question marks. Practice adding them to sentences on worksheet.
Cool-Down (5 min): Students orally state a sentence and its punctuation mark.
Week 2: Expanding Decoding & Sentence Skills
Session 4: CCVC Decoding
HF word review, then introduce CCVC words (blends) using Slide Deck and Game Cards.
Session 5: Verb Tenses
Introduce present/past tense verbs. Practice changing tenses in simple sentences in Journals.
Session 6: CVCC & Oral Drafting
Decoding CVCC words. Begin oral drafting using Story Starter Prompts; draw ideas in Journals.
Session 7: Reading Comprehension
Comprehensive review followed by group reading of passages with discussion questions.
Session 8: Pictorial/Written Drafting
Students draft stories in journals via pictures or simple sentences. Peer sharing at the end.
Week 3: Application, Assessment & Celebration
Session 9: Game Day!
Reinforce all decoding and HF words through interactive games (Go Fish, Matching).
Session 10: Quiz & Practice
Complete Word Wizards Quiz. Independent practice in journals for remaining time.
Session 11: Test Review
Review concepts for the final test using the Answer Key to address misconceptions.
Session 12: Final Test & Party
Complete Decoding & Drafting Test. Celebrate student growth and wizard mastery!
Word Wizards Slide Deck Welcome, Word Wizards!
Get ready to become amazing readers!
New Words
Super Sentences
Amazing Stories
Welcome students and introduce the exciting journey! Explain what they will be learning.
High-Frequency Words!
These words show up a lot when we read and write!
Look for them everywhere!
the
and
a
Uppercase Letters!
Let's make our capital letters look neat and tidy!
Start at the top!
Follow the lines.
ABC
Lowercase Letters!
Small letters have their own special spots!
Some are tall! (b, d)
Some are short! (a, e)
Some have tails! (g, p)
abc xyz
Super Spacing!
Why do we need spaces between words?
thecatran
Hard to read!
the cat ran
Easy to read!
Punctuation Power: Periods
A period (.) tells us when a sentence is all done.
It's like a stop sign!
The dog barked.
I like to read.
Punctuation Power: Question Marks
A question mark (?) tells us someone is asking something.
Your voice goes up!
Are you happy?
What is your name?
Decoding: VC Words
Let's sound out these words!
am
/a/ /m/
in
/i/ /n/
it
/i/ /t/
Decoding: CVC Words
Three sounds make a word!
cat
cat
dog
dog
sun
sun
Decoding: CCVC Words
Two consonants blend together at the start!
Listen for the blend: spot, plan, crab
spot
plan
crab
Decoding: CVCC Words
Two consonants blend together at the end!
Listen for the end blend: lamp, desk, hand
lamp
desk
hand
What's Happening Now?
Present tense verbs tell us what is happening right now.
Word Wizards Lesson Script Word Wizards Script
Teaching Guide & Dialogue
Teacher Copy Only
Week 1, Session 1: High-Frequency Words
Focus: Introduction to 'the', 'and', 'a' and letter formation.
Teacher: "Good morning, Word Wizards! Today we're starting an exciting journey to become super readers and writers. We're going to learn some special words that show up a lot, practice making our letters just right, and even start telling our own stories!"
Teacher: "Let's start with some 'High-Frequency Words.' These are words you'll see almost every day when you read. Our first word is 'the'. Can everyone say 'the'?"
Students: "The!"
Teacher: "Great! 'The' is spelled T-H-E. Look at it on the slide. See how it looks? Now, let's use it in a sentence: 'The cat ran fast.' Can you think of a sentence with 'the'?"
Wait for student responses
Teacher: "Our next word is 'and'. Say 'and'."
Students: "And!"
Teacher: "'And' is spelled A-N-D. 'I like apples and bananas.' What's a sentence with 'and'?"
Wait for student responses
Teacher: "Now, let's get our writing muscles ready! We're going to practice making our uppercase and lowercase letters. Remember, it's important to start our letters in the right spot so they look clear and neat. Watch me as I make the letter 'A' - start at the top, down, down, and across. Now, you try on your worksheet!"
Week 1, Session 2: Spacing
Focus: Space between words for readability.
Teacher: "Welcome back, Word Wizards! Yesterday we learned 'the,' 'and,' and 'a.' Let's quickly say them all together!"
Teacher: "Today, we're going to talk about something super important when we write sentences: spacing! Look at this on the board: 'thecatran'. Is that easy to read?"
Students: "No!"
Teacher: "You're right, it's all squished together! Now look at this: 'the cat ran'. What's different?"
Students: "There are spaces!"
Teacher: "Exactly! We need a little space, like a 'finger space,' between each word so our sentences are easy to read. Let's practice! I'll say two words, and you show me with your hands how much space goes between them. 'Big dog'."
Week 1, Session 3: Punctuation
Teacher: "Hello, fantastic Word Wizards! Let's get ready for some more sentence magic! Today we're going to talk about how we end our sentences. Every sentence needs a special mark at the very end to tell us how to read it. These are called punctuation marks."
Sentence Scramble Worksheet Sentence Scramble!
Word Wizards Practice
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Fix the Sentences!
The words are squished! Add spaces and a mark (. or ?) at the end.
1. thedogranfast
2. iliketoplay
3. whereistheball
4. weplayoutside
Part 2: Unscramble the Words!
Put the words in the right order. Remember spaces and punctuation!
is / cat / my / big
red / a / I / have / ball
see / can / a / bird / you
Part 3: Write Your Own!
Write two sentences using your magic words. Use good spacing!
Word Wizard Practice Sheet
Letter Formation Worksheet Letter Formation Magic
Neatly Trace and Write
Name:
Part 1: Uppercase Letters
Trace the letters, then write them on your own! Start at the top.
A
B
C
D
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Part 2: Lowercase Letters
Tall letters, short letters, and letters with tails!
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Part 3: Write Your Name
Part 4: Favorite Magic Word
Practice makes perfect!
Decoding Challenge Game Cards Decoding Challenge
Master the Magic of Reading
How to Play:
Cut out the cards.
Pick a card and read it.
Read it right? Keep it!
VC Words (Vowel-Consonant)
am
in
it
on
up
at
CVC Words
cat
dog
sun
run
pig
cup
CCVC Words (Blends)
spin
frog
clap
CVCC Words
lamp
desk
hand
tent
fast
milk
Daily Warm-Up Cards Daily Warm-Up Cards
Start your Magic every day!
Word Wizards: Sessions 1-12
Session 1
Letter Sound Focus
Say the sound for each letter:
A
B
C
D
E
Session 2
Word Review
Read the magic words:
the and a
Session 3
Blending Magic
/c/ /a/ /t/ →
/d/ /o/ /g/ →
/s/ /u/ /n/ →
Session 4
Power Up!
Read all these words:
1. the 2. and 3. a 4. is 5. in
Session 5
Action Hunt
Circle the action word:
1. The bird sings a song.
2. I run fast.
3. The dog jumps high.
Session 6
Decoding Review
pig
stop
hop
play
Session 7
Mixed Challenge
1. am
2. cat
3. slip
4. vest
Session 8
Story Spark
Tell a short story about your favorite animal.
Session 9
Rhyme Time!
Rhyme with 'cat':
Session 10
Spelling Challenge
Session 11
Tricky Words
1. said
2. was
3. you
Session 12
Wizard Power!
I am a great reader because...
Word Wizards Reading Passages Word Wizard Stories
Reading for Meaning
Name:
Story 1: The Red Ball
Tom has a red ball. The ball is big. Tom likes to play with the ball. He can throw the ball. He can kick the ball. The ball goes fast! Tom is happy with his red ball.
1. What color is Tom's ball?
2. What can Tom do with his ball?
3. How does Tom feel about his ball?
Story 2: My Dog Pal
I have a dog. His name is Pal. Pal is a small dog. He likes to run and jump. Pal can sit. Pal can stay. He likes to eat. I love my dog, Pal.
1. What is the dog's name?
2. What does Pal like to do?
Story 3: The Little Bird
A little bird sat on a tree. The bird was blue. It sang a pretty song. A cat saw the bird. The cat wanted to catch the bird. But the bird flew away. The bird was safe.
1. Where did the bird sit?
2. What color was the bird?
3. What happened to the bird at the end?
Story Spark Discussion Guide Story Spark Discussion Guide
Teacher Resource • Session 7 Focus
Lesson Spellbinding Sentences
Session Goal
The goal of Session 7 is to move from decoding individual words to finding meaning in complete passages. This guide provides scaffolds to help Tier 2 learners connect story events and prepare for their own drafting.
Prep Checklist
Copies of "Word Wizard Reading Passages"
High-Frequency Word Cards for review
Whiteboard for "Story Web" drawing
1 Magic Word Warm-Up (5-8 Minutes)
Instructional Script:
"Wizards, today we are going to use our decoding powers to read whole stories! Before we start, let's look at some words that might show up. These words follow the CCVC and CVCC patterns we've been practicing."
Check for Understanding:
Flash cards for: fast, sit, jump, bird, tree, dog. Ask students to tap out the sounds before saying the word.
Discussion Prompt:
"What makes a sentence a story? Is it just one word, or a lot of words working together?"
2 Guided Passage Discussion
Story 1: The Red Ball
Focus: Character & Action
"What does Tom do with the ball that makes it 'go fast'?"
Why ask? Helps students identify verbs (throw, kick) and their effect on the story's pace.
"If Tom lost his ball, how would the story change?"
Story 2: My Dog Pal
Focus: Descriptive Words
"What are the words used to describe Pal? (small, dog)"
Why ask? Encourages use of adjectives in their own future drafting.
"What is something your own pet (or a pet you'd want) can do?"
Story 3: The Little Bird
Focus: Plot & Sequence
"Why was the bird in danger? What happened that made it fly away?"
Why ask? Develops understanding of cause and effect (problem/solution).
"How did the bird feel at the end vs. how the cat felt?"
3 Magic Story Sparks (Story Start Prompts)
Use these prompts to transition from reading to drafting. Read them aloud and have students orally finish the first sentence.
The Magic Hat
"I put on a big hat. Suddenly, I could..."
The Talking Frog
"A green frog sat on a log. It looked at me and said..."
The Secret Box
"I found a small box in the park. Inside the box was..."
The Lost Robot
Story Starter Cards Magic Story Spark Cards
Session 8 • Drafting Practice
Teacher Note: Cut these cards out and place them in a "Magic Jar." Have students pick a card to inspire their story drafting in their journals.
Magic
The Magic Hat
I put on a big, purple hat. Suddenly, I could...
Word Wizard Prompt
Nature
The Talking Frog
A green frog sat on a log. It looked at me and said...
Word Wizard Prompt
Mystery
The Secret Box
I found a small box in the park. Inside the box was...
Word Wizard Prompt
Space
The Lost Robot
A robot fell from the sky. It had a red light and it...
Word Wizard Prompt
Food
The Giant Cookie
I baked a cookie as big as a car! When I took a bite...
Word Wizard Prompt
Adventure
The Treasure Map
I found a map under my bed. It showed a path to...
Word Wizard Prompt
Sky
The Purple Rain
One day, it rained purple juice. Everyone outside began to...
Word Wizard Prompt
Animals
The Super Cat
My cat, Fluff, put on a cape. She flew up high and...
Word Wizard Prompt
My First Draft Journal My First Draft Journal
Stories by a Word Wizard
Welcome to your magic journal! This is a place for your big ideas, your funny stories, and your amazing adventures.
Draw your ideas in the boxes.
Write your words on the lines.
Share your story with a friend!
This journal belongs to:
1. My Favorite Toy
Entry One
What is your favorite toy? What does it look like? Draw it and write about it!
Drawing Area
2. An Animal Adventure
Entry Two
If you were an animal for a day, what would you be? What would you do?
Drawing Area
3. A Magical Day
Entry Three
If you could have a magical day, what would happen? Draw it below!
Drawing Area
4. My Super Power
Entry Four
If you were a superhero, what would your power be? What would you do to help people?
Drawing Area
5. A Trip to Space
Entry Five
Imagine you are on a rocket ship! Where did you go? What did you see out the window?
Drawing Area
6. The Best Snack
Entry Six
What is the yummiest snack in the world? Is it sweet or salty? Draw it here!
Drawing Area
7. Under the Sea
Entry Seven
If you could swim like a fish, what would you see deep in the ocean? Who would you meet?
Drawing Area
8. The Secret Door
Entry Eight
You found a tiny door in your wall. When you opened it, what did you see on the other side?
Drawing Area
9. A Day at the Beach
Entry Nine
You are playing in the sand and water. What are you building? Are there any crabs or seagulls?
Drawing Area
10. The Kind Giant
Entry Ten
A giant who is as tall as a tree visits your town. He is very nice! What does he help people with?
Drawing Area
11. My Best Friend
Entry Eleven
Draw a picture of you and your best friend. What is your favorite thing to do together?
Drawing Area
Magic Spark Story
Story Title: _________________
Glue your Story Spark card here or write the prompt!
Word Wizards Quiz Word Wizards Quiz
Show What You Know!
Name:
Score:
/ 10
1. Magic Words
Circle the word your teacher says.
the
and
a
2. Letter Formation
Write the letter your teacher says. Use your best handwriting!
Uppercase
Lowercase
3. Sentence Magic
Fix the sentence! Add spaces and the correct ending mark (. or ?).
canirunfast
Decoding & Drafting Test Master Wizard Test
Final Literacy Assessment
Name:
Mastery Level:
WIZARD
Part 1: Decoding Power
Sound out and read each word to your teacher.
it
cat
frog
hand
at
pig
spin
lamp
Part 2: Verb Tense Trick
Read the sentences. Circle the word that shows it happened yesterday (Past Tense).
1. I play outside. | I played outside.
2. He jumped high. | He jumps high.
Part 3: Final Story Draft
Draw a picture of you doing something magic. Then write a sentence about it!
OFFICIAL WORD WIZARD
Word Wizards Answer Key Word Wizards Master Answer Key
Teacher Reference Resource
Sentence Scramble Worksheet
Part 1: Fix the Sentences (Spaces & Punctuation)
1. The dog ran fast.
2. I like to play.
3. Where is the ball?
4. We play outside.
Part 2: Unscramble the Words
1. My cat is big.
2. I have a red ball.
3. Do you want to play?
4. We went to the park.
5. Can you see a bird?
Reading Passages Comprehension
Story 1: The Red Ball
1. Red
Story 2: My Dog Pal
1. Pal
Assessments (Quiz & Final Test)
Word Wizards Quiz (Mid-Seq)
Part 1: Teacher says "the" or "and". Student circles it.
Part 3: "Can I run fast?" (Ensure space after 'Can', 'I', 'run' and a '?' at end)
Decoding & Drafting Test (Final)
Part 2: Verb Tense Trick
1. played (yesterday/past)
2. jumped (yesterday/past)
Part 3: Drafting Rubric (Observational)
Drawing matches story idea?
Sentence uses correct spacing?
Sentence uses correct punctuation?
Verb tense matches drawing?
Common Wizard Misconceptions
Writing "I" as lowercase "i".
Forgetting to add punctuation for questions.
Reversing letters like 'b' and 'd' during formation.
Blending sounds: skipping middle vowel sounds in CVC words.
