Text Leveling System

Ricky, the rock that just couldn't rhyme

RDQ:	494	Max Word/Sent	41	Total Words	596		Diff Words	280
Lex	630	Ave Word/.Sent	13	Hi Freq occurs	381	63.9%	Hi freq	116	41.4%
AR	2.7	Long Sentences	26.7	Low Freq occurs	28	4.7%	Low freq	22	7.9%

The sun shone above, and the air was quite cool,
 as Ricky the rock was rolling through school.
He loved math and science, and gym was exciting,
So he rolled to his next class, which was reading and writing.]]
The teacher said class, I think that it's time, for every rock here to learn how to rhyme.
Rhyme is when words all have the same sound, like cat, bat and sat. there are lots to be found.]]
Then she talked about oodles of poodles and noodles,
and how she loved freshly baked warm apple strudels,
and claimed that a bear who had no fashion flair, 
would eat any éclair if you made him a dare.]]
Ricky felt lost. His head started to spin.
So he turned round to talk to his friend, tess the tin.
Rhyming's confusing, Rick said with a frown.
But Tess said, cheer up, and don't look so down.
You just need some practice period you'll figure it out.
You'll learn how to rhyme. I haven't a doubt.]]
Then suddenly Ricky was frozen with fright, 
as his teacher said, class, I'd like you to write
a fun rhyming story, but don't get uptight.
I'd like you to write it before bedtime tonight.]]
Rick said to Tess, what will i do now?
I have to write rhymes and I just don't know how.]]
Before tess could tell him it would all be OK,
they heard a loud sound as the bell rang to say,
they had all reached the end of another fine day.
And Rick turned around and rolled sadly away.]]
Test followed closely, I'm sorry to pry
but have you ever just thought that you might need to try.
For example, she said, refusing to yield,
as they pass an old farm and a wild open field,]]
Can you think of a word that would rhyme with that cow?
Let's forget it, said Ricky, I just don't know how, 
and more to the point, I don't want to right now.]]
But test pressed on, what rhymes with that truck?
You mean the one that looks stuck, in the muck, with that duck?
I can't think of a rhyme. But I wish him good luck.]]
They rolled past a train yard, and tess tried once more,
I know you don't want to, and think it's a chore.
But what words would rhyme with that small red caboose?
You mean the one over there, near that moose on the loose?
I don't have a rhyme. I'm not dr seuss.
Let's give this up now, it's simply no use.]]
But Rick. Exclaimed Tess, who wanted to say,
I guess you don't see you've been rhyming all day.
You're a natural, kid, and I think you should know
like the great Mr. Jay, you're a lyrical pro.]]
Ricky then realized that not trying was wrong.
He had no idea he could rhyme all along.]]
The next day at school, with a shy little smirk,
he went to his teacher and presented his work.
I've finished my story, and it's really sublime,
called Ricky, the rock that just couldn't rhyme.]]
So bria, the ladybug, who was there at the school,
was happy that Ricky had followed one rule:
we all have a talent that's hidden within, 
and it's easy to find if we dare to begin.
Like Ricky discovered he was quite a good poet.
But like so many others he just didn't Um he just didn't]]
do you want Mr. Jay to read to your school? Ask your teacher or principal to e-mail him at]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Little support

Vocabulary: More decoding/definition issues

Language: Few descriptive words

Sentences: Some Long/Complex

Text structure: Story/Poem

Bold/Italicized Words

Features

Character development

Rhyming

Topic

Writing

Rhyme

Learning

*Schools & Education

Low Frequency Words

éclair	bria	caboose	doubt	fashion
flair	lyrical	oodles	poet	presented
refusing	rhyme	rhymes	rhyming	rhyming's
science	shone	smirk	strudels	sublime
uptight	yield