Author's word choices means practising the idea at the table with a short text or prompt and one clear check. We will demo once, then your child tries.

Materials: A short familiar text, poem, or picture book page; Sticky notes or pencil. 1. Say the goal of Author's word choices in plain words once. 2. Adult reads a short stretch aloud and models one think-aloud (predict, notice, or question). 3. Child reads or listens to three short stretches and gives one evidence-based response each time. 4. Fresh check: one fresh evidence-based response. Record and stop. Done: three responses tied to words or pictures in the text. Proof: parent note of examples and results. Stop: End after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.