Chico Sees a Ghost
Text Type: Fiction • Word Count: 570

READ-ALOUD LESSON
Chico Sees a Ghost
Long /o/ vowel sound (review)

• Introduce and expose students to the long /o/ vowel sound represented by VCe long /o/, open vowel, vowel digraph, and long /o/ vowel pattern spellings.
• Build oral comprehension skills.
• Model fluent reading.

Story Summary
Otis the goat boasts that he is the bravest goat and often teases Chico the pony being different. However, when Otis gets hurt in an abandoned goldmine—rumored to be haunted—Chico shows his bravery by coming to Otis' rescue. 

Build Background
Ask students to share what they think makes a person brave. Ask them to explain whether words or actions best show a person's bravery. Invite them to share a time when they or someone they know was brave. 

Preview the Book
Read the title and ask students to identify the vowel sound at the end of the word Chico. Then have them identify the vowel sound in the middle of the word ghost. Explain that you will read a story aloud that has many words with the long /o/ vowel sound. Have students say the long /o/ vowel sound. 

Write Chico and ghost on the board. Read each word aloud to students. Have volunteers come to the board and take turns circling the letter that stands for the long /o/ vowel sound in the words. 

Make a transparency of the copyright page of the book. Point out the box of Long /o/ words that shows the long /o/ words in the story. Read each word aloud with students, pointing out the different spellings that stand for the long /o/ vowel sound. 

Open the book and show students the illustrations on each page. Invite students to predict what the story might be about. 

During Reading
Read the story aloud with expression, emphasizing the long /o/ vowel sound in the words. Ask students to clap their hands each time they hear the long /o/ vowel sound. Point out that they might hear the long /o/ vowel sound at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the word. 

Allow students to ask questions during reading. Pause occasionally to ask students to predict what might happen next. 

After Reading
Reader Response
Have students explain whether the book is fiction or nonfiction. Invite them to summarize the story and/or describe their favorite part. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the book.

• Why did the animals believe that a ghost got Otis and trapped him in the goldmine?
• Why does Otis make fun of Chico at the beginning of the story?
• Do you think Otis was truly brave for going into the goldmine?