A Home for Bats 8 Not all bats spend their days in caves. 14 Bats can live in many places. 20 Some bats hang from big trees. 27 Other bats live in old rock mines. 34 Bats can also live in old houses. 40 They may hide under low bridges. 47 Some bats can make tents with leaves. 56 They make their tents high up in a tree. 61 They rest under the tent. 67 Then they do not get wet. 75 Some bats hide in homes of other animals. 82 Bats can find a home almost anywhere. 92 They will like it as long as it is dark. 101 Take a look around. Do you see any bats? Name three places where bats live. How do some bats make tents? Winter (23 WCPM) Spring (53 WCPM) Fluency Assessment Grade 1 57
Healthy Teeth 9 It s easy to keep your teeth healthy and strong. 17 There are just three simple steps to follow. 24 First, brush your teeth after each meal. 33 Be sure to also brush before going to bed. 37 Next, use dental floss. 41 Flossing cleans between teeth. 49 It removes food you miss with a toothbrush. 57 Do you know how to floss your teeth? 65 If not, ask your dentist to show you. 72 Visiting the dentist is the third step. 80 How often should you go for a checkup? 89 Once or twice a year should do the trick! 96 Follow these steps to have healthy teeth. 104 And you will also have a great smile! What are three ways to keep your teeth healthy? How does flossing help your teeth? Winter (23 WCPM) Spring (53 WCPM) Fluency Assessment Grade 1 59
Winter 8 Winter is the coldest time of the year. 12 That is true everywhere. 21 It does not matter where you happen to live. 29 In winter, there are fewer hours of sunlight. 35 Trees and plants shed their leaves. 38 Many even die. 45 Some places are much colder than others. 52 People wear heavy clothing to keep warm. 58 They wear thick boots and coats. 66 There s very little food for animals to eat. 73 Some animals store food before winter begins. 80 They save enough for the coming winter. 88 Other animals migrate, or go to warmer places. 93 They return in the spring. 100 That is when the weather warms up. 108 Some places get lots of snow in winter. 115 Children build a snowman or go sledding. 122 What is winter like where you live? Name three facts you learned about winter. Why do some animals store food? Winter (23 WCPM) Spring (53 WCPM) Fluency Assessment Grade 1 61
Jack s List 8 Mom walked into Jack s room. What a mess! 17 she said, as she looked around. Jack, please clean 19 your room. 27 You re right, Mom, said Jack. I will clean 38 my room. But first, I ll make a list. That will help 41 me get started. 52 So Jack wrote a long list. Then he got to work. 64 First he made his bed. I can cross that off my list, 74 he said. Then he hung up his clothes. Now I ll 84 cross that off, he said. Next he put away his 90 games. He crossed that off, too. 99 Jack felt warm and opened the window. But it 110 was a windy day. So his list blew out the window. 118 I guess I m done working today! said Jack. What were two things on Jack s list? What happened to Jack s list? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 63
Stage Fright 8 Rita trembled as she waited backstage. In a 17 few minutes, I ll go onstage and sing, she thought. 25 She had been practicing every day for many 34 months. So she didn t know why she felt so 42 frightened. Rita took several deep breaths to calm 51 down. Then she thought about the song she was 59 going to sing. Suddenly, her mind went blank. 67 She couldn t remember any of the words! What 74 am I going to do? she thought. 81 Then her music began, and she walked 90 onstage. The audience looked up at her, and she 100 looked back at them. She began singing in a clear, 108 strong voice. When she finished her song, the 114 audience cheered. Bravo! Bravo! they shouted. 123 Rita bowed, and she smiled from ear to ear. How did Rita feel before she went onstage? What did the audience think of Rita s performance? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 65
Common Cents 10 If you have one hundred of these, you have a 19 dollar. What are we talking about? We are talking 28 about the penny. The penny is the most common 37 coin in the United States. The U.S. Mint produces 43 billions of these coins each year. 52 The U.S. Mint made its first copper penny in 60 1793. Since then, there have been many different 66 pictures on pennies. Abraham Lincoln s picture 76 went on the penny in 1909. The other side showed 85 wheat. Today, Lincoln s face is still on the penny. 94 Pennies are now made of zinc. They have only 105 a tiny bit of copper in them. Over the years, some 114 things have changed with the penny. But one thing 124 remains the same. A penny is still worth one cent. Whose face is on the penny today? Name two things about the penny that have changed over time. Fluency Assessment Grade 2 67
How to Play Running Bases 8 Have you ever played a game called running 20 bases? It is a lot of fun! You need two people to 30 catch the ball and a group of people to run 39 between the bases. You also need two bases and 49 one ball. You can use many things as your bases. 59 An old shirt or a paper plate will work fine. 68 To start the game, the catchers throw the ball 77 to each other three times. Then the runners start 85 running back and forth between the bases. The 90 catchers try to tag them. 99 The runners have to be quick and smart, so 109 they do not get tagged. After three tags, a runner 118 can change places with a catcher. Then the game 120 begins again. What can you use as a base for running bases? Why can t you play running bases with just three people? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 69
Jake s Jar 9 Jake loves to read everything in sight! This is 17 why he joined the school s reading club. Jake 27 reads when he first wakes up in the morning. He 36 reads a little at lunchtime. He reads right before 42 he goes to sleep at night. 51 One day, Jake asked Mom how many books he 62 had read so far. He and Mom forgot to count them. 72 Mom found an old jar in the kitchen. Every time 83 Jake finished a book, they put a dime into the jar. 91 This would help them know how many books 94 Jake had read. 104 When the jar was full, Jake wanted to buy a 113 book to give to his reading club. Jake s mom 121 cheered and said that was a wonderful idea! What does Jake love to do? How can the dimes in the jar help Jake tell how many books he has read? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 71
Cactus Plants 8 Cactus plants grow in the desert. They come 17 in all shapes. Some are big. Others are small. 25 How do they live in this dry place? 34 They can store water in their stem. The stem 45 is thick. It has a waxy coat. That keeps the water 53 inside. Cactus plants have no leaves. They have 62 spines or scales. The spines and scales can store 70 water. The spines keep animals away, too. How? 73 They are sharp! 81 How do their roots help them live? Their 92 roots do not grow down. They grow out to the side. 105 They are near the top of the soil. So a little bit of 114 rain can help. The roots soak up the water. 121 All these things keep this plant alive. How does a cactus store water? How do the roots of a cactus help it live in the dry desert? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 73
Animal Watch 9 Jason and Pete decide to take a walk in 18 the forest. They know that the animals come to 28 the forest pond to drink. If the boys are very 37 quiet, they will be able to watch the animals. 44 The boys hide behind some tall bushes. 53 When they look over the bushes, they can see 56 the pond clearly. 63 Soon the boys hear a sound coming 72 closer and closer. It sounds like a deer or 77 perhaps a family of skunks. 84 Suddenly Pete gets a funny feeling in 92 his chest. Hic, says Pete. Hic, hic, hic. 96 I ve got the hiccups! 102 The boys hear the sound quickly 104 moving away. 112 I m sorry, says Pete. I just can t be 120 quiet when I have the hiccups. Maybe we ll 125 have better luck next time. Why do the boys go to the forest? What makes the animals move away? Fluency Assessment Grade 2 75