I’m Tom reading text
Reading short texts
Level 3 (Early readers) Age 5-12
Reading short texts mini lessons for ESL kids teachers

I’m Tom
This mini lesson focuses on a short reading text about a young boy called Tom. Students read, understand, say and write some simple sentences about a young boy and themselves.
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Materials:
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Age: 5-12 years
Time: 10-15 mins
Objectives: Read, understand, say and write some simple sentences about a young boy and yourself.
Lesson materials
Printables:
- “I’m Tom” mini-reader textbook
Supplies:
- blackboard / whiteboard with chalk / markers
Use this mini-lesson within your main lesson for reading and writing practice. You will need to download and print out the mini-reader textbook PDF file before the lesson. Alternatively, show the file on a PC screen.
Students should have completed the alphabet, letter clusters and early reading mini-lessons before starting these lessons.
We strongly advise NOT dedicating a full lesson to this reading mini-lesson – we suggest including a 10-15-minute section each lesson for doing a reading segment.
Mini-lesson procedure:
Page 1. Read the text

Before class, download the “I’m Tom” mini-reader textbook – either print it out or show on a PC screen in class.

Show the first page and explain that everyone will read a fun story. Point at the pictures and elicit what they are and try and guess the boy’s name and age.
Get everyone to read out the sentences slowly together. Help with vowel sounds and clusters. Read and chorus each sentence 3x.
Ask follow up questions for each sentence (e.g. “Do you like playing tennis?”).
Page 2. Answer the questions about the story


Hold up the question page and have individual students read each question. Then elicit the answers as a class.
Write the questions and answers on the board as students give the answers.
Page 3. Make a story (writing preparation)

The questions on this page will help your students prepare for the writing activity on the last page.

Hold up the questions page and have individual students read each question. Elicit answers from a few students for each question. Then have everyone write down the questions and their answers in their notebooks.
Finally, put students in pairs. Pairs take it in turns to ask each other the questions.
Page 4. Write a story

Show the model text with the underlined words. Explain that everyone is going to write their story about themselves. They can use their answers on page 3 to complete their texts.

Give everyone a few minutes to write their texts. Circulate as they are doing so and help out with vocabulary and spelling.
Finally, put students into small groups of 3 or 4 and have them read their stories to their group.
Other lessons
Levels:
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Level 2 lessons (Age 5-7)
Level 3 lessons (Age 7-9)
Level 4 lessons (Age 9-12)
Mini lessons (all ages)
Mini lessons:
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Early reading:
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