Decodable Adventures

The name of the villain in Ed and Mel's Adventures Book Series came easily enough to me. R's and L's can often create a problem with reading and spelling. They sometimes affect how a word is divided into syllables. Students can have trouble with R's and L's as they add them or delete them from words. R's can control vowels that are in front of them creating a whole new syllable type. L's are involved in the consonant-LE syllables. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to hear the difference between a vowel-L ending a word and a consonant-LE ending a word. In fact, R's and L's can be downright obnoxious at times. Yes, Noxious. R's + L's + Noxious = The Villain, R. L. Nox Definition (links to Merriam-Webster): Noxious Heather Doolittle

I was inspired to have the characters Ed and Mel belong to a family of adventurers. I needed names that could be adapted to a CVC format, but the characters' names needed to be more than just a name that fit the CVC format. These names stand for something. These character's names reflect the bravery of men and women who have conquered new territories and ventured into the unknown. Students who deal with reading difficulties, and their families, are also brave as they venture into their schools and the world of print. Here are the adventurers who inspired the Ed and Mel's names. Links to other Websites: Edmund Hillary*  Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. Amelia Earhart*  Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. * These are links to other Websites. In my research to find the names of great adventurers, I was introduced to Aloha Wanderwell* . Aloha became the first woman to drive around the world...

I chose Kashgar, China as a destination for Ed and Mel as it has an airport and has been a center of trade along the Silk Road. As The Black Silk Path is based on the Silk Road, I thought it would be fitting to have the entrance to The Black Silk Path near Kashgar and the Pamir Mountains. Heather Doolittle More information (links to Britannica): Kashgar Video of Kashgar  The Silk Road Pamir Mountains Google Maps:

The Estancia Ranquilco was the inspiration for the ranch which Ed and Mel visit on their quest to find The Black Silk Path. I'd love to see this place in person someday. Heather Doolittle Definitions (links to Britannica): Patagonia Mountains Google Maps:

I had fun looking at different places around the globe as I decided where Ed and Mel would be traveling. I decided their friend, Mother Henrietta would live at the convent in Arcos de la Frontera. The village has a castle, and there is a convent. I don't know much about it, but it looks like you can order a sweet treat from the nuns through a small door with a turntable. Check out the village of Arcos de la Frontera and the information on the convent (see the Convento de Mercedarias Descalzas). While the nuns at Convento de Mercedarias Descalzas may be cloistered nuns in real life, in "The Black Silk Path" Mother Henrietta is eager to help Ed and Mel find their parents. Heather Doolittle Definitions (links to Merriam-Webster): Convent Cloister Google Maps: