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Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Fluency Builder: Super Squirrels: Clever Climbers of the Trees

This resource is part of our Those Darn Squirrels! collection.

This Knowledge and Fluency Passage provides a clear, engaging passage about squirrels’ habits, movements, and diet, helping students grasp key facts before diving into Those Darn Squirrels! By understanding how squirrels behave and interact with their environment, students can better follow the story’s events and enjoy the humor and cleverness of the characters. Use this passage before reading the book to build background knowledge and prepare students to better comprehend the text.

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Teacher Guide

Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Connect Background Knowldge to the Book

Reading doesn’t stop when the book is finished!

Use this resource to help students connect ideas from the background knowledge passage to what they read. It’s a quick way to show how learning more about the world helps them as readers.

Includes both K–2 and 3–5 versions for easy differentiation.

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Fill Knowledge Gaps and Build Fluency for Better Comprehension

What’s Included in the Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Every package comes with:

A paired background passage connected to one of the books in the BookPagez library
A grade-level set of Fry high-frequency words
Fluency practice opportunities (model reading, partner/choral/independent rereads)
Comprehension questions (literal, inferential, vocabulary)
Teacher tools for progress monitoring (Words Correct Per Minute and prosody notes)

Why It Matters

Strong comprehension depends on more than decoding. Students also need background knowledge, smooth and expressive reading, and automatic recognition of high-frequency words. Knowledge & Fluency Passages bring all of that together in one resource. The passages fill in common knowledge gaps that can block understanding, give students repeated practice with fluency, and reinforce the words they’ll see most often in print. The result: more confident readers who are ready to dive into the books you teach.

Why You’ll Love Using Them

Think of these passages as a Swiss Army Knife for your literacy block. They prepare students for your read-alouds and small-group work, build fluency skills in meaningful ways, and give you quick assessment data—all without extra planning. Instead of stopping mid-story to explain tricky concepts, you’ll launch into texts knowing your students are already equipped to engage, notice, and think more deeply.

Explore Other Resources to Pair with Those Darn Squirrels!

The cover for Those Darn Squirrels! Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

Use Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin to strengthen your students' comprehension skills, build their vocabulary, and help them understand how words work.

Get ready for a laugh-out-loud story about birds, squirrels, and one very grumpy old man. Old Man Fookwire loves painting and feeding birds—but he absolutely cannot stand squirrels. Before the birds fly south for the winter, the squirrels take over his backyard and cause all kinds of trouble. But these squirrels aren't ordinary pests—they're fuzzy little geniuses!

This resource bundle helps students enjoy the story's humor and heart while practicing key comprehension strategies, including identifying the author's purpose, synthesizing, and understanding text structure. Students will also explore rich vocabulary and word choice through targeted support, plus a word work activity that highlights adjectives leading nouns—just like in the phrases little old house and fuzzy little geniuses.

It's the perfect read-aloud for blending smart thinking with silly fun!

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Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Fluency Builder: Super Squirrels: Clever Climbers of the Trees

Themes

Teacher Guide

Connect Background Knowldge to the Book

Fill Knowledge Gaps and Build Fluency for Better Comprehension

What’s Included in the Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Why It Matters

Why You’ll Love Using Them

Explore Other Resources to Pair with Those Darn Squirrels!

Get Full Access to the Entire Library of Resources when You Join Today!

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