Theme-Based Stories

Check out the Theme-Based Lesson Planning Tab to see how these stories fit into the entire theme (overview, lesson plans, classroom activities, and student practice videos.)

The resources on this page are free readers organized to parallel the theme-based vocabulary units. Typically, instructors/tutors should lay vocabulary groundwork before introducing learners to these stories, which are a continuation of vocabulary acquisition plus a bridge toward meaning-making with text. The stories are a compilation of readers created by the Pathway to Literacy team or adapted from stories produced by Literacy Minnesota, Bow Valley School of Global Access, We Speak NYC, and Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA). 

 Overview of Approach

The scaffolded reading approach, which is outlined below, is used with learners in the classroom.

Day 1:

• Introduce the story with pictures/background 

• Read the story aloud to the learners (don’t show the words)

• Ask Yes/No comprehension questions

Day 2:

• Read the story aloud to the learners (show the words)

• Read the story again, with students repeating (echo reading)

• Read numbered sentence(s) from the story - students identify which # sentence you're reading

• Ask wh- comprehension questions

Day 3:

• Read the story all together (choral reading)

• Have students read a word or sentence, depending on their level

• Ask personalized questions for learners based on the story

To this approach demonstrated, watch the Recording Classroom Assistant Training (1.5-hour video). 

For instructions on how to print the Printable Versions: Instructions for Printing Booklets 

Printable formats will be added as they become available!  

 In the interim, regular story slides can be modified and printed for in person classes. 

HEALTH Stories (Theme 1)

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level A)

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level B/C)

• Jen Gets a Check-Up (Level D)

• Jen Gets a Check-up Printable Versions

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level A)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level B/C)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor (Level D)

• Sasha Calls the Doctor Printable Versions

• Mr. Smith is Sick (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith is Sick Printable Versions

• My Daughter is Sick  (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• My Daughter is Sick (Level B/C) (Literacy MN) 

• My Daughter is Sick (Level D) (Literacy MN)

• My Daughter is Sick Printable Versions

• Hurt At School (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Hurt at School Printable Versions

• Amir Gets Sick (Bow Valley)

• Jiadeep's Big Fall (Bow Valley)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level A) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level B/C) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic (Level D) (Literacy MN)

• Mr. Smith Goes to the Clinic Printable Versions

FOOD Stories (Theme 2)

• Mary's Garden (Level A)

• Mary's Garden (Level B/C)

• Mary's Garden (Level D)

• Mary's Garden Printable Versions

• Benjamin's Garden (Level A)

• Benjamin's Garden (Level B/C)

• Benjamin's Garden (Level D)

• Benjamin's Garden Printable Versions

• Maria Goes Shopping Level A

• Maria Goes Shopping Level B/C

• Maria Goes Shopping Level D

• TABE Add-ons for Maria Goes Shopping

• Maria Goes Shopping Printable Versions

• Emma Makes Soup (Level A)

• Emma Makes Soup (Level B/C)

• Emma Makes Soup (Level D)

• Emma Makes Soup Printable Versions

• Deb Sets the Table (Level A) 

• Deb Sets the Table (Level B/C)

• Deb Sets the Table (Level D)

• Deb Sets the Table Printable Versions 

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level A)

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level B/C)

• The Restaurant Kitchen (Level D) 

• The Restaurant Kitchen Printable Versions

• I Don't Like Vegetables (Level A)

• Grandma Doesn’t Like Vegetables (Level B/C)

• Grandma Doesn’t Like Vegetables (Level D)

• Lien Buys Food  (Bow Valley)

• Lien Goes Shopping  (Bow Valley)

• Food from Home  (Bow Valley)

COMMUNITY Stories (Theme 3)

• Walk or Ride? (Level A)

• Walk or Ride? (Level B/C)

• Walk or Ride? (Level D)

• Walk or Ride? Printable Versions

• Maria's Errands (Level A) 

• Maria's Errands (Level B/C)

• Maria's Errands (Level D)

• Maria's Errands Printable Versions

• My Busy Week (Level A)

• My Busy Week (Level B/C)

• My Busy Week (Level D)

• My Busy Week Printable Versions

• Anna Takes A Walk (Level A) 

• Anna Takes a Walk (Level B/C)

• Anna Takes a Walk (Level D)

• Anna Takes a Walk Printable Versions

• Park Visit (Level A)

• Park Visit (Level B/C)

• Park Visit (Level D)

• Park Visit Printable Versions

• Van Remembers Hunting (Level D)

• Van Remembers Hunting Printable

• Biak Loves Weaving (Level D)

• Biak Loves Weaving Printable

• Lian Goes Fishing (Level D)

• Lian Goes Fishing Printable

• Prepositions & Adjectives (not a story)

• Andres Needs Gas (Bow Valley)

• Andres' Speeding Ticket (Bow Valley)

• Mursal on the Bus (Bow Valley)

EMPLOYMENT (Theme 4) and Success at Work (Theme 10)

• Who Works There? (Level A)

• Who Works There? (Level B/C)

• Who Works There? (Level D)

• Who Works There? Printable Versions

• Jobs at Home (Level A)

• Jobs at Home (Level B/C)

• Jobs at Home (Level D)

• Jobs at Home Printable Versions

• Feza is a Homemaker (Level A)

• Feza is a Homemaker Printable

• My Job (Level A)

• My Job Printable 

• Fatima Gets a Job (Level A)

• Fatima Gets a Job Printable

• Nat Gets a Job (Level A)

• Nat Gets a Job  (Level B/C)

• Nat Gets a Job  (Level D)

• Nat Gets a Job Printable Versions

• Tom’s First Day Level A  

• Tom’s First Day Level B 

• Tom’s First Day Level C 

• Tom’s First Day Level D 

• Tom's First Day Printable Versions

• Trouble at Work Level A 

• Trouble at Work Level B/C 

• Trouble at Work Level D 

• Trouble at Work Printable Versions

• Inge Cuts Hair (Level A) (Bow Valley)

• A Problem at Work Level C/D (Level B/C) (Bow Valley)

• Pooja Finds a Job (Level D) (Bow Valley)

• Help at Work  (Level A)

• Help at Work (Level B/C)

• Help at Work (Level D)

• Help at Work Printable Versions

FAMILY Stories (Theme 5)

• The Badu Family (Level A)

• The Badu Family (Level B/C)

• The Badu Family (Level D)

• The Badu Family Printable Versions

• A Day with Grandma Level A 

• A Day with Grandma Level B/C 

• A Day with Grandma Level D 

•  A Day with Grandma Printable Versions

• A Day with Grandpa Level A 

• A Day with Grandpa Level B/C

• A Day with Grandpa Level D 

• A Day with Grandpa Printable Versions

• The Tired Family Level A 

• The Tired Family Level B/C 

• The Tired Family Level D 

• The Tired Family Printable Versions

• Flowers for Mom Level A

• Flowers for Mom Level B/C 

• Flowers for Mom Level D 

• Flowers for Mom Printable Versions

• A Day at the Park Level A 

• A Day at the Park Level B/C 

• A Day at the Park Level D 

• A Day at the Park Printable Versions 

• A Fun Day with Mom Level A 

• A Fun Day with Mom Level B/C  

• A Fun Day with Mom Level D 

• A Fun Day with Mom Printable Versions

• Happy Birthday, Daniel Level A

• Happy Birthday Daniel Level B/C 

• Happy Birthday Daniel Level D 

• Happy Birthday, Daniel! Printable Versions

• Mary’s Family Level A

• Mary’s Family Level B/C

• Mary’s Family Level D

• Mary's Family Printable Versions

• The Family Dinner (Level A)

• The Family Dinner (Level B/C)

• The Family Dinner (Level D)

• The Family Dinner Printable Versions

HOUSING Stories (Theme 6)

• An Apartment for Two Level A  (Literacy MN)

• An Apartment for Two Level B/C (Literacy MN)

• An Apartment for Two Level D (Literacy MN)

• An Apartment for Two Printable Versions

• A New Table Level A

• A New Table Level B/C 

• A New Table Level D

• A New Table Printable Versions

• Moving Level A

• Moving Level B/C

• Moving Level D 

• Moving Printable Versions

• Leaky Water Pipe Level A

• Leaky Water Pipe Level B/C 

• Leaky Water Pipe Level D

• Leaky Water Pipe Printable Versions

• Washing Machine Repair Level A

• Washing Machine Repair Level B/C 

• Washing Machine Repair Level D

• Washing Machine Repair Printable Versions

• Renting an Apartment Level A 

• Renting an Apartment  Level B-C

• Renting an Apartment Level D

• Renting an Apartment Printable Versions

• Finding an Apartment Level A-B

• Finding an Apartment Level C-D

• Buying a House Level A-B

• Buying a House Level C-D

• Perminder’s Cleaning Day (Bow Valley)

SCHOOL/EDUCATION Stories (Theme 7)

• What We Do in School (Level A)

• What We Do in School (Level B/C)

• What We Do in School (Level D) 

• What We Do in School Printable Versions

• School on Zoom (Level A)

• School on Zoom (Level B/C)

• School on Zoom (Level D)

• School on Zoom Printable Versions 

• Ready for School (Level A)

• Ready for School (Level B/C)

• Ready for School (Level D) 

• Ready for School Printable Versions

• How Much Money? 

• Meet the Teacher (Level A)

• Meet the Teacher (Level B/C)

• Meet the Teacher (Level D)

• Meet the Teacher Printable Versions

• Parent Teacher Conference (Level D) (We Speak NYC)

• Deng Starts School (Level A) (Bow Valley)

• Deng Starts School (Level B) (Bow Valley)

• Sado Goes to School (Level A) (Bow Valley)

• Sado Goes to School (Level C) (Bow Valley)

• Mursal’s Trip to School (Level D) (Bow Valley)

HEALTHCARE Stories (Theme 8)

I Go to the Pharmacy Level A 

I Go to the Pharmacy Level B/C 

I Go to the Pharmacy Level D  

I Go to the Pharmacy Printable Versions

Family Doctor Visit (level D) (CIWA)

Lab Visit Level D (CIWA)

Nadia Goes to the Pharmacy Level D (CIWA)

Sara Goes to the Dentist Level D (CIWA)

At the Dentist Level A 

At the Dentist Level B/C 

At the Dentist Level D 

At the Dentist Printable Versions

Eye Exam Level A 

Eye Exam Level B/C 

Eye Exam Level D

Eye Exam Printable Versions

Anna Goes to the Eye Doctor Level D (CIWA)

911 Emergency (Level A) 

911 Emergency (Level B/C) 

911 Emergency Printable Versions

Ken Works Out Level A  

Ken Works out Level B-C

Ken Works out Level D 

Ken Works Out Printable Versions

DAILY LIFE Stories (Theme 9)

• Mo and Sam in the Morning (Level A)

• Mo and Sam in the Morning (Level B/C)

• Mo and Sam in the Morning (Level D)

• Mo and Sam in the Morning Printable Versions

• Pam Makes Tea Level A

• Pam Makes Tea Level B-C

• Pam Makes Tea Level D

• Jan's Work Day  

• New To Indianapolis  

SUCCESS AT WORK (Theme 10)

See Employment Theme Above

CLOTHING / SHOPPING Stories (Theme 11)

• A New Shirt  (Level A)

• A New Shirt  (Level B/C)

• A New Shirt  (Level D)

• Colors at the Store  (Level A)

• Colors at the Store  (Level B/C)

• Colors at the Store (Level D)

• Anna Buys Soap  (Level A)

• Anna Buys Soap  (Level B/C)

• Anna Buys Soap (Level D) 

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level A)

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level B/C)

• Maria Goes Shopping (Level D)

• Maria Goes Shopping Printables 

FINANCIAL LITERACY Stories (Theme 12)

• A Lot of Shoes (Level A)

• A Lot of Shoes (Level B/C)

• A Lot of Shoes (Level D)

• A Lot of Shoes with Math  (Level D) 

• A Lot of Shoes Printables

• Ben Pays Bills (Level A)

• Ben Pays Bills (Level B/C)

• Ben Pays Bills (Level D)

• Ben Pays Bills Printables

• A Bike for Sara (Level A)

• A Bike for Sara (Level B/C) 

• A Bike for Sara (Level D)

• A Bike for Sara Printables

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level A)

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level B/C)

• Luna Buys Insurance (Level D)

• Luna Buys Insurance Printables

• Samuel Saves (Level A)

• Samuel  Saves (Level B/C)

• Samuel Saves (Level D)

• Samuel Saves with Math (Level D)

• Samuel Saves Printables

• Spending Too Much Money (Level D) (Bow Valley)

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level A)

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level B/C) 

• Uma Goes to the Bank (Level D)

• Uma Goes to the Bank Printables 

MINI-THEMES

PERSONAL INFORMATION Stories

• A New Home (Level A)

• A New Home (Level B/C)

• A New Home (Level D)

A New Home Printables 

CELEBRATION / HOLIDAYS Stories

Additional Sources of Reading Materials

• ESL Literacy Readers by Bow Valley College 

• LESLLA List of Reading Materials & Curriculum Resources

• Literacy Minnesota Readers

• Free Online Reading and Listening Resources for Adult ESL students (Literacy MN)