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Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Let’s Learn About Letters!

This resource is part of our Can I Be Your Dog? collection.

This Knowledge and Fluency Passage introduces students to the parts and purpose of letter writing, highlighting how letters help people stay connected. Since Can I Be Your Dog? is told through letters from a dog, understanding this form of communication deepens students’ engagement with the story and the dog’s heartfelt attempts to connect. Use this passage before reading the book to build background knowledge and prepare students to better comprehend the text.

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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 Can I Be Your Dog?

The cover for Can I Be Your Dog? Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

Use Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings to strengthen your students' comprehension skills, build their vocabulary, and help them understand how words work.

This heartwarming and humorous story follows Arfy, a determined dog on a quest to find a forever home. The engaging narrative and playful letter format make it a perfect choice for exploring empathy, kindness, and perseverance.

This comprehensive resource set includes strategy-based comprehension activities focused on identifying the author's purpose, making inferences, and making predictions. Students will also enjoy a word work activity that explores 3-syllable words drawn from Arfy's letters, helping to build phonics and decoding skills. Extension activities invite students to design an "Adopt Me!" poster and practice writing a letter of their own—perfect for encouraging creativity, empathy, and written expression.

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Knowledge and Fluency Passages

Let’s Learn About Letters!

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 Can I Be Your Dog?

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

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