The Big Dog ~ Developing Segmenting and Blending Skills

How to Use This Book:

Before Reading:

• Show the cover and point to the title. Ask students to share what they notice.
• Talk about each word and break them down phonetically by sounding out each letter and blending them together.

During Reading:

• Explain that the story is about a dog named Ben, and we will learn about what makes him sad.
• Model how to sound out words, pointing to each letter and blending the sounds together.
• Ask students to listen for clues about why Ben is sad.

After Reading:

• Ask: “What did you learn about Ben?”
• Discuss: “Why was Ben sad? What do you think would help him feel better?”
• Encourage personal connections: “What are things that make you sad? What helps you feel better?”
• Talk about Ben’s red things. Ask: “Why do you think Ben had so many red things?”
• Invite students to share their favorite toys and favorite colors.