Tops the Monkey
(A work of love-in-progress)
***SCROLL DOWN: LOtS Of DifferenT Leveled Read Alouds******
A Winner in Dollar General/Kellogg's National LiterAcy Share Your story Sweepstakes
(the Menu Button Will Come Up By Dragging the Mouse oVer To the TOp Left Hand Corner For More REad Alouds ANd Other Reading Materials)
Hi! My name is Mrs. Nichols and this is my monkey, Tops. We're so happy that you stopped by to see us! (If you wish to leave a message, stroll down to the bottom of this page. If you wish for me to contact you, indicate this in your message.)
Check out the menu at the top of the page to learn what our site offers.
Update: September 20th: Lessons 1, 2, and 3 for Story One in Learning to Read With Phonics has been posted. https://www.topsthemonkey.com/learning-to-read-with-phonics
Our NEW book: Action Poems with Lessons for Teaching Reading Readiness. This book is available at amazon.com or at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tops-The-Monkey
Check our video clip introducing our latest book.
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/learning-to-read-with-phonics
- List of DRA Leveled Books
- DRA LEVEL 1 Books (for pre-K - K)
Red or Blue --compare/contrast; problem/solution
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/red-or-blue-read-aloud.html
The Hat --problem/solution; making predictions
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/the-hat-read-aloud.html
Monster Mop --sequence of events; making predictions
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/monster-mop-read-aloud.html
School Lunch --categorizing, making connections (understanding diversity)
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/school-lunch-read-aloud.html
The Farm --basic main idea
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/the-farm-read-aloud.html
The Toy Box --using context clues
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/the-toy-box.html
DRA LEVEL 2 Books (for pre-K-K)
Read alouds listed under this category can be found on this link:
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/dra-level-2-read-alouds.html
Pink Pig -- sequence of events
The Ship --problem/solution
Up They Go -- sequence of events
Little Kittens --compare/contrast (mini-lesson on context clues)
Three White Sheep --compare/contrast (mini-lesson on rhyming patterns)
The Tree Stump --problem/solution
DRA Level 3 Books (for pre-K-K)
Read alouds listed under this category can be found on this link:
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/dra-level-3-read-alouds.html
My Nest --main idea/focus on topic (mini-lesson on context clues)
You Can, Too --text-to-self (mini-lesson on context clues)
Pat's Perfect Pizza--text-to-self (mini-lesson on context clues)
(READY FOR DECODING: Books below introduce students to decoding)
Fat Cat--word families, rhyming patterns, decoding, (sequence of events)
Look at That! - word families, rhyming patterns, decoding, (text-to-self)
Caps! -context clues, word families, rhyming patterns, decoding, (text-to-self)
The Wet Pet - context clues, cause/effect, word families, rhyming patterns, decoding
Zebra's Yellow Van - longer sentences, rhyming patterns, context clues, (sequence of events)
The Merry-Go-Round - some pages have two lines of text, rhyming patterns, context clues, (drawing conclusions)
DRA Level 4 Books (for Pre-K-K)
My Clock is Sick --making predictions, longer sentences, two lines of text, (cause/effect)
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/my-clock-is-sick-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Lost in the Fog --making predictions, long sentences, three lines of text, (problem/solution)
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/lost-in-the-fog-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Too High!--picture book walk, repetitive text, picture clues (retelling)
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/too-high-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Come to My House--picture book walk, repetitive text, picture clues (retelling)
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/come-to-my-house-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Pitty Pitty Pat--picture book walk, sound words, repetition, text-to-self
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/pitty-pitty-pat-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part One: Something New --Preparation before reading the book includes making predictions, picture book walk, and an introduction to thought balloons. This preparation is what builds comprehension and vocabulary.
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-one-something-new-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part Two: Something New--The book is read.
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-two-something-new-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part Three: Something New---How to use base words as a reading strategy.
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-three-something-new-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part Four: Something New -- sequence of events, retelling, 4-finger approach.
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-four-something-new-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part One: Off to Grandma's House (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-one-off-to-grandmas-house
Part Two: Off to Grandma's House (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-two-off-to-grandmas-house-dra-level-4-read-aloud
Part Three: Off to Grandma's House (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-three-off-to-grandmas-house-dra-level-4-read-aloud
NON-FICTION
Part One: Tick Tock World Clocks
www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-one-tick-tock-world-clocks-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Two: Tick Tock World Clocks
www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-two-tick-tock-world-clocks-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part One: Small and Large (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-one-small-and-large-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Two: Small and Large (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-two-small-and-large-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Three: Small and Large (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-three-small-or-large-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part One: Tops the Monkey Presents….Encyclopedia of Places (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-one-tops-the-monkey-presentsencyclopedia-of-places-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Two: Tops the Monkey Presents…Encyclopedia of Places (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-two-tops-the-monkey-presentsencyclopedia-of-places-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Three: Tops the Monkey Presents…Encyclopedia of Places (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-three-tops-the-monkey-presentsencyclopedia-of-places-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
Part Four: Tops the Monkey Presents…Encyclopedia of Places (DRA Level 4) Read Aloud for Non-Fiction
https://www.topsthemonkey.com/new-arrivals/part-four-tops-the-monkey-presentsencyclopedia-of-places-dra-level-4-read-aloud-for-non-fiction
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- I am a retired teacher. I've taught for forty years. I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida. I have a master's degree in reading education from Old Dominion University. I am a Navy wife and mother of three children. In addition, I have won a number of prestigious awards, such as the National Award Winner in Nickelodeon's Bright Orange Teacher Contest and a National Daily Point of Light Award from the Points of Light Foundation.
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