{
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  "@type": [
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  "@id": "https://printablescholar.com/data/decodable-readers/chad-and-the-ditch.json",
  "name": "Chad and the Ditch",
  "description": "Free printable decodable reader: \u201cChad and the Ditch\u201d \u2014 a digraph ch phonics story for kindergarten and 1st grade. 2-page PDF with reading passage + coloring page illustration. Science of Reading aligned.",
  "url": "https://printablescholar.com/decodable-readers/chad-and-the-ditch/",
  "license": "https://printablescholar.com/methodology/",
  "isAccessibleForFree": true,
  "inLanguage": "en-US",
  "dateModified": "2026-06-26",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "@id": "https://printablescholar.com/#org",
    "name": "Printable Scholar",
    "url": "https://printablescholar.com"
  },
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "@id": "https://printablescholar.com/about/#emma",
    "name": "Emma Reed",
    "jobTitle": "Editorial Lead"
  },
  "educationalLevel": [
    "Kindergarten",
    "Grade 1"
  ],
  "learningResourceType": [
    "DecodableText",
    "Reader"
  ],
  "teaches": {
    "@type": "DefinedTerm",
    "name": "Digraph CH",
    "description": "CH digraph (initial and final)",
    "inDefinedTermSet": "Science of Reading \u2014 systematic phonics scope and sequence"
  },
  "educationalAlignment": [
    {
      "@type": "AlignmentObject",
      "alignmentType": "teaches",
      "educationalFramework": "Science of Reading (National Reading Panel, Reading Rockets, IDA)",
      "targetName": "Digraph CH phonics pattern"
    }
  ],
  "variableMeasured": [
    "decodable_passage",
    "target_words",
    "sight_words",
    "comprehension_questions"
  ],
  "reader": {
    "slug": "chad-and-the-ditch",
    "title": "Chad and the Ditch",
    "skill_id": "digraph-ch-3",
    "skill_name": "Digraph CH",
    "pattern": "CH digraph (initial and final)",
    "phase": 2,
    "phase_label": "Blends & Digraphs",
    "grade": "K-1",
    "worksheet_url": "https://printablescholar.com/phonics-worksheets/digraph-ch-3/"
  },
  "decodable_passage": {
    "title": "Chad and the Ditch",
    "text": "Chad went to play with his pup, Gus. \"Let's play catch!\" said Chad. He tossed a red ball. Gus ran to fetch it, but the ball fell in a ditch. It was stuck in thick mud. Which way could Gus get it? Gus was sad. Chad went to check the ditch. \"I will get it for you, chum,\" he said. He bent down and got the ball. It had a patch of mud, but Gus was glad.",
    "highlight_instruction": "Circle or highlight all the words with the CH sound (at the beginning or end). How many did you find?",
    "comprehension": []
  },
  "target_words": [
    "chip",
    "chop",
    "chat",
    "chin",
    "chest",
    "check",
    "chill",
    "chug",
    "much",
    "such",
    "rich",
    "which",
    "lunch",
    "bunch",
    "bench",
    "catch",
    "match",
    "patch",
    "ditch",
    "fetch"
  ],
  "sight_words": [
    "the",
    "is",
    "a",
    "and",
    "to",
    "was",
    "it",
    "she",
    "he",
    "they"
  ]
}