The document is the 'Reading for Bright Minds' preparatory textbook published by Diwa Learning Systems Inc., focusing on teaching early childhood reading skills through a whole-part-whole strategy. It includes lessons that cover various topics about self, community, and culture, incorporating engaging activities for learners. The author, Wilhelmina Alba-Contreras, and the reviewer, Mona R. Alagar, provide guidance for both teachers and parents to foster a love for reading in young children.

1. READING for Bright Minds
Preparatory
Textbook
Philippine Copyright 2009 by DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
All Rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines
Editorial, design, and layout by
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without
permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Exclusively distributed by
DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
4/F SEDCCO 1 Bldg.
120 Thailand corner Legazpi Streets
Legaspi Village, 1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 893-8501 * Fax: (632) 817-8700
ISBN 978-971-46-0063-8
Editorial Board
Author
Wilhelmina Alba-Contreras is currently taking up Early Childhood Education at the De La Salle
University Graduate School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, major in Interior Design, from
the University of Santo Tomas and a Certificate for Teaching from the St. Bernadette College of
Alabang.
Ms. Contreras is the Program Directress and Nursery teacher of the Kennedy International School of
Business and Language in Alabang. She is also actively working for the SIBOL schools of the Gawad
Kalinga villages in Muntinlupa, Paranaque, and Las Piñas. Her background in teaching preschool and
elementary Reading and Language includes stints at the Blessed Scubilion Learning Center and STI
Prep School.
Reviewer
Mona R. Alagar has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Paul College, Quezon City.
Ms. Alagar is the preschool area coordinator at the Poveda Learning Center.

2. To the Learner
READING for Bright Minds has been written
especially for you. May the activities in this book
give you an exciting adventure as you learn to put the
sounds of letters together and read words on your
own. Welcome to the world of reading!
The Author

3. To the Teacher
Reading is an important life skill. Young children, who are exposed to reading
materials, who see reading as an act, and who are read to, are often those who are
more equipped to acquire the other skills necessary to learning. The ability to read
opens up an individual’s horizons and makes the enjoyment of learning possible.
A good strategy for teaching reading is the whole-part-whole process. In
this strategy, reading instruction starts with the reading or sharing of a whole,
meaningful text. This is followed by the teaching of a reading skill or strategy within
the context of the text. Then, in the final stages of the lesson, the children apply the
skill as they go back to the text.
This book is intended for teaching reading in a whole-part-whole strategy. It is
suggested that the teacher or parent begins a lesson with a story, poem, or any type
of literature the child will understand. Whole language strategies and subskills, such
as letter identification, phonemic awareness, and decoding, are incorporated into
the theme of each lesson. Mastery of the whole language strategies and subskills is
reinforced through the activities in this book.
I hope that READING for Bright Minds will help you provide meaningful
learning experiences for the children you teach.
The Author

4. TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNIT 1 This Is Who I Am.......................................................................................................1
Lesson 1 Introducing Myself.......................................................................................................................................2
(Beginning and ending sounds)
Lesson 2 Describing Myself ........................................................................................................................................14
(Medial short a)
Lesson 3 I Am Growing................................................................................................................................................... 21
(Medial long a)
Lesson 4 I Can Do Things by Myself...................................................................................................................30
(Medial short e)
Lesson 5 My Family ........................................................................................................................................................... 35
(Medial long e)
Lesson 6 Other Members of My Family.........................................................................................................45
(Medial short i)
Lesson 7 My Home ............................................................................................................................................................. 51
(Medial long i)
UNIT 2 This Is Where I Live ............................................................................................ 59
Lesson 8 Kinds of Houses ........................................................................................................................................... 60
(Medial short o)
Lesson 9 My Friends.........................................................................................................................................................66
(Medial long o)
Lesson 10 My School ........................................................................................................................................................... 74
(Medial short u)
Lesson 11 Around My Community...................................................................................................................... 80
(Medial long u)
Lesson 12 Community Helpers ............................................................................................................................... 88
(Beginning and ending digraph ch)
Lesson 13 More Community Helpers .................................................................................................................95
(Beginning and ending digraph sh)
Lesson 14 Working Together ....................................................................................................................................102
(Beginning and ending digraph th)

5. UNIT 3 This Is My Country............................................................................................109
Lesson 15 Our Flag ...............................................................................................................................................................110
(The consonant blend fl)
Lesson 16 Filipino Attires .............................................................................................................................................. 115
(The consonant blend bl)
Lesson 17 Philippine Plants........................................................................................................................................120
(The consonant blend pl)
Lesson 18 Philippine Animals...................................................................................................................................126
(The consonant blend cl)
Lesson 19 Cariñosa ..............................................................................................................................................................132
(The consonant blend sl)
Lesson 20 Our National Hero .....................................................................................................................................137
(The consonant blend gl)
Lesson 21 The Tale of Florante and Laura ...................................................................................................145
(The consonant blend pr)
Lesson 22 Riding the Metro Train ........................................................................................................................ 151
(The consonant blend tr)
Lesson 23 Visiting Magellan’s Cross....................................................................................................................156
(The consonant blend cr)
Lesson 24 Dancing the Singkil ................................................................................................................................. 162
(The consonant blend dr)
UNIT 4 This Is How We Celebrate ............................................................................ 169
Lesson 25 Hanukkah ........................................................................................................................................................170
(The consonant blend sp)
Lesson 26 Tanabata ........................................................................................................................................................... 178
(The consonant blend st)
Lesson 27 Mutlu Bayramlar! ......................................................................................................................................185
(The consonant blend sw)
Lesson 28 Halloween ........................................................................................................................................................ 192
(The consonant blend sc)
Lesson 29 Quinceañera .................................................................................................................................................200
(The consonant blend sm)
Lesson 30 Christmas ........................................................................................................................................................210
(The consonant blend sn)
Illustration Guide ......................................................................................................................................................229
A Child’s Third 100 Words ..................................................................................................................................... 234

6. READING
for Bright Minds

7. Unit This Is
1 Who I Am

8. Introducing Myself
Paste your picture here.
My name is
.
My nickname is .
I am years old.
I was born on .
2 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

9. Paste a picture of your house here.
I live at
.
I study at
.
This Is Who I Am 3

10. Write the missing letters of the alphabet.
Aa Dd Ee
Hh Jj
Ll Nn Qq
Ss Uu
Uu Yy
Dear Parents:
Make your own alphabet flashcards so you can do this activity with your child at home.
4 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

11. Recite the alphabet. Then, say the name of each picture.
This Is Who I Am 5

12. 
6 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

13. Draw lines to match the uppercase letters with their
lowercase letters.
B t
L j
E l
T b
J e
This Is Who I Am 7

14. Say the name of each picture. Circle the beginning letter of
the name of each picture.
l m p s
f b n o
c e p x
o v w h
j a f y
8 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

15. Say the name of each picture. Write the beginning letter
of each picture on the blank space.
This Is Who I Am 9

16. Say the name of each picture. Circle the ending letter of
the name of each picture.
r g t p
c t p x
f b n o
o p w h
j r f y
10 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

17. Say the name of each picture. Write the ending letter of
each picture on the blank space.
This Is Who I Am 11

18. Say the name of each picture. Circle the letter on the left
if you hear it at the beginning of the word. Circle the letter
on the right if you hear it at the end of the word.
n n
x x
h h
12 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

19. t 10 t
g g
s s
b b
This Is Who I Am 13

20. Describing Myself
Check () the items that best describe how you look.
I have short long hair.
My hair is straight curly wavy.
The color of my hair is brown black.
I have light medium dark skin.
I have light-colored dark-colored eyes.
My eyes look like this:
14 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

21. Compare yourself with your seatmate. Check () all the
items that best decribe you.
My seatmate is
Write your seatmate‛s name.
I am shorter taller than my seatmate.
My hair is shorter longer than my
seatmate‛s hair.
Trace your seatmate‛s right hand here.
My hands are bigger smaller than my
seatmate‛s hands.
This Is Who I Am 15

22. Draw your favorite things in the boxes. Write their names
in the spaces provided.
My favorite food is .
My favorite toy is a .
16 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

23. Fill this space with your favorite color.
My favorite color is .
My favorite cartoon character is .
This Is Who I Am 17

24. Write the missing letters to form words that have a middle
short vowel ă. Use the pictures as your guide.
a a
a a
18 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory

25. Say the name of each picture. Put a check () on the
pictures that have the same short vowel ă sound as in hat.
Dear Parents:
Let your child practice discriminating letter sounds by first saying the medial vowel ă
sound then saying the word.
This Is Who I Am 19

26. Say the name of each picture. Find the word in the box that
corresponds to the picture. Write the word on the blank
space.

fan wag sad
tag ham man
20 READING for Bright Minds – Preparatory