23 The clock who could not tock

I Chonko
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by Pame a
ncy GUida
Liisa Chou
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Illustrated by
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Once upon a time, there was an old clock
shop. Inside the shop lived a whole flock of
clocks. There were alarm clocks, cuckoo
clocks, even a tall grandfather clock.

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Tick, tack.
Tick, tack.
Tick, tack.

All day long, the shop was filled with the
sound of clocks. "Tick, tack. Tick, tack.
Tick, tack." But one clock stood out from
the rest. His name was Tick.


Tick,
Tick,
Tick,
Tick,

-- -

tack.
tack.
tack.
tack.

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Tick had a problem.
"Tick, tick. Tick, tick. Tick, tick."
Tick was a clock who could not tock!


"What poppycock!" said Grandfather Clock.
'~II clocks can tack. You must simply try harder."

Tick tried with all his might. But it was no use.
He just couldn't tack.


The other clocks began to tease Tick.
"What good is a clock who can't tack?"
they said. Tick hated being a laughing
stock, but what could he do?


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Then late one day, as the shopkeeper was
about to lock up, there was a knock at the door.
In walked a woman carrying a pink clock.

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The woman handed the clock to the shopkeeper.
"I don't like this clock," she said. "Perhaps you
can sell it to someone else."


The next morning, the clocks welcomed the new
member of their flock. But they were in for quite a
shock. When the clock opened her mouth, out
came, "Tack, tack. Tack, tack. Tack, tack."


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Tick couldn't believe it-a clock who could only
tack! This gave Tick an idea. He whispered

something to Tack, the new clock.


Then the two clocks stood up tall, side by side.
In perfect time came the sound of each clock,
"Tick, tack. Tick, tack. Tick, tack."

1(10


A customer heard the musical tick-tocking of
the two clocks working together.
"How lovely!" he said. "I've never seen
anything like that before." Tick was as proud
as a peacock. So was Tock.


The customer bought Tick and Tack.
"I'll have the
most unusual clocks
,
on my block!" he said.


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So Tick and Tack went home with the man.
There, the two friends ticked and tacked
around the clock and lived happily
ever after.

13)1"-


listen to the riddle sentences. Add the right letter
or letters to the -ock sound to finish each one.
1
'"

To find out the time I look at the

ock.

,2

My toe was cold because there was a hole
in my_ock.

3

He got paint on this shirt because he did not
wear an art

4

",

Do not touch the plug or you will get an
electric

5

ock.

ock.

At the door I heard someone

ock.


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6,

The boat is anchored to the

7

While hiking I stubbed my toe on a _ock.

8

Only I know the combination to my

ock.

bicycle _ock.
9

To finish the tower we need one more
building

iLO

ock.

A group of bees is called a swarm.
A group of birds is called a

ock.

Now make up some new riddle sentences using - ock

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-oel(
Give a great holler, a cheer, a yell
For all of the words that we can spell
With an 0, C, and K that make the sound -ock,
You'll find it in tack and block and clock.
Three little letters, that's all that we need
To make a whole family of words to read!

Make a list
of other -ock
words. Then
use them in
the cheer!

1(16


Here are some quick and fun ways to use this
story to help children learn the word family -ock.
Explain to children that you are going to read a story that has many words with the -ock sound,
made by the letters 0, C, and K. All these words belong to a group called a word family.
Ask children to find the -ock word ending at the top of the front cover. Review aloud with children the
sound these three letters make together. Can they find two words in the title with the -ock sound?
Flip over the book and read the story summary on the back cover. Ask children to point out the
words they hear with the -ock sound. Explain that the story you are about to read includes many
more words that end in -ock. Can they help you find them?
Read aloud the story once for pleasure and enjoy the whimsical illustrations. Then reread the

book, emphasizing the -ock word ending in the appropriate

words. Ask children to listen closely

and identify all the words that end in -ock (they might raise their hand or clap when they hear one,
or you might choose a volunteer to point to the word on the page). As they do so, make a list on
chart paper of all the -ock words.

+~•••••••••••••••••••

Write each of the words from your list on an unlined
index card. Use a different color for -ock than the rest
of the word.

Read each word on the cards with

children. On another reading of the story, distribute the
cards to children and have them hold up their card as
their word is read.
Pages

14- I 5 of the book feature

10 riddles with

answers that require a word ending in -ock. Read
each riddle aloud and have children volunteer answers.
Read aloud the cheer on page 16 several times, with
lots of energy. Invite children to join you in reciting the
cheer when they feel ready (you might even choose a

"cheerleader") .

•

:
:

••

••

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Other words in
the -ock family:
crock

sock

••

dock

gridlock

••

:

frock

livestock

••••
••

••

jock
knock

padlock
roadblock

••

rock

shamrock

••

stock

sunblock

:

smock

unlock

••
••

.
••

•:
:
••

••
••
••
••
••

~

•••••••••••••••••••••••• •


Inside this book you'll meet a clock
who tries and tries, but just can't tock!
Learn how this little clock
solves his big problem in this
"tick"-lishly funny tale!

'fiORD FAAt/t" rALlS1-- are humorous

read-aloud stories created to build

early phonics skills by teaching children to recognize "families" of words that share the
same spelling pattern. This key reading strategy helps kids decode new words with
ease-and

become stronger readers, writers, and spellers. Set learners on the path to

literacy success with these rib-tickling tales-one

ISBN 0-439-26254-2
00295

for each of the top 25 word families!