The Curious Case of the Clues (Teach BIG!)

Unlock the power of vocabulary with The Curious Case of the Clues, a fun and effective children’s book that teaches students how to use context clues to figure out unfamiliar words–an essential reading comprehension skill for grades 2-6. Written by renowned educator Randi Whitney, this engaging story transforms students into confident word detectives through rhyme, rhythm, and a clever character named Detective Dan. As part of the Teach BIG Full Circle of Language Arts framework, this book pairs perfectly with the educator’s guide Lexicon Mysteries Solved. While Lexicon Mysteries Solved provides in-depth instructional strategies and lesson extensions for teachers, The Curious Case of the Clues delivers the same key concept–context clue mastery–in a student-friendly format that’s ideal for whole-class read-alouds, small group instruction, independent reading, and introductions or reviews for using context clues to decipher new vocabulary words. Students will learn to apply the H.I.N.T.S. technique: H – Helpful Definition Clues I – Inference Clues N – Nearby Clues T – Tone Clues S – Synonym & Antonym Clues With catchy rhymes and a highly memorable approach, this book reinforces academic vocabulary, strengthens critical thinking, and improves reading comprehension skills. Whether used in classrooms, tutoring sessions, or homeschool language arts programs, it makes the process of understanding new words accessible and fun. Perfect for teachers, parents, and reading specialists, The Curious Case of the Clues is your go-to resource for teaching students how to unlock word meanings using the text around them. Add this context clues book for kids to your literacy toolkit today and watch young readers grow in confidence, one mystery word at a time!