Born to
Play
Dan Freedman
BASED ON THE NOVELS BY
TEACHER'S BOOK
by Mark Bailey
Copyright ©2024 HATRIQA Limited.
All rights reserved. Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, no part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise
without prior written permission from the Publisher or under license permitting restricted
copying in the United Kingdom from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details
of such licenses (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the
Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, www.cla.co.uk.
ISBN 9781915791245 (Paperback)
Published by HATRIQA Limited
Lower Ground Floor
7 Coleherne Road
London SW10 9BS
PUBLISHER Tim Gentles
EDITOR Nicole Elliott
ILLUSTRATIONS © Gavin Reece 2022 and © Marcus Marritt 2022
DESIGN Lucy Allen
Gavin Reece and Marcus Marritt have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988, to be identified as the authors of the illustrations.
Special thanks to UCL Institute of Education, UCL EDUCATE, UCL Innovation and Enterprise,
and Kristin Thrower
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of
the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or
dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
IMAGES
Vocabulary Quiz p3: by Freepik - track and field. By brgfx on Freepik - tall; injured. By storyset
on Freepik - tired; angry. By gstudioimagen1 on Freepik - door
Chapter 1: by sebperejro on Freepik - worldmap. By Eugene B-sov on Freepik - UK map
Chapter 2: by rocketpixel on Freepik - USA map
Chapter 4: by aandzulfikar21 on Freepik - soccerkit. By Area Poser LineArt on Freepik - socks
As is the case with any sport involving speed, agility, balance, and environmental factors,
soccer poses some inherent risk. Specifically, the soccer skills described in The Jamie
Johnson Series can be dangerous if attempted. The author and publisher advise readers to
take full responsibility for their safety and they do not recommend readers attempt the skills
described in the series without the proper supervision from an accredited coach or guardian.
Additionally, the author and publisher suggest readers not take risks beyond their personal
level of experience, aptitude, training, and comfort level. As such, the authors and publishers
of the series deny liability for any resulting injury, loss, or damage to either property or
person, whether direct
or consequential and however arising.
Orders are available through our website at
www.hatriqa.com or by emailing orders@hatriqa.com.
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
Contents
Introduction
00
1. Character summary
00
2. Plot summary
00
3. Teacher tips
00
4. My Vocabulary
00
5. Vocabulary Assessment
00
6. Optional extra material
00
– English Spelling & Pronunciation Guide
00
– How to learn vocabulary
00
7. Chapter 1: The Soccer Computer
00
8. Chapter 2: In Trouble Again
00
9. Chapter 3: More Trouble
00
10. Chapter 4: Saturday
00
11. Chapter 5: The Bicycle Kick
00
12. Chapter 6: The Pep Rally
00
13. Chapter 7: I Hate This Stupid Country
00
14. Grammar Reference
00
Introduction
This Teacher’s Book is the complete guide to how to use HATRIQA’s Born to Play
Soccer Reader Method™. It ofers full support for lesson preparation, classroom
activities and monitoring and evaluation, enabling you to focus your time engaging
with students. The book includes:
• A guide on how to use the student workbook
• A guide on how to use graded readers in the classroom (and outside the
classroom)
• Summary of each chapter
• Summary of the main characters
• Full answers to the student book
• Suggested extension tasks
• Vocabulary Assessment – to be administered before reading the book and
afterwards to provide empirical data on students’ language learning.
• Support for teaching the grammar used in each chapter
Soccer Reading Method™
The Soccer Reader Method is a revolutionary educational program that harnesses the
universal appeal of soccer to inspire students to learn the language and literacy skills
they need to become proficient, confident communicators.
A Game-Changing Approach to Language Learning and Literacy
The Soccer Reader Method weaves soccer stories into the fabric of learning,
captivating student’s imaginations, igniting sparks of enthusiasm and nurturing a
desire to master language and literacy skills.
Supporting Diversified Teaching
The Soccer Reader Method supports diversified teaching in mixed-ability classrooms
by using a common soccer story adapted to diferent learner levels. This approach
engages all students with the same soccer narrative while tailoring language
complexity to individual abilities. By using a shared storyline, the method fosters
inclusive discussions and collaborative learning, ensuring students of varying
proficiencies can participate meaningfully, accommodating diverse needs while
promoting a sense of unity and mutual support in the classroom.
Introduction
Introduction
Creating a Soccer-Led Educational Movement
The Soccer Reader Method is creating a soccer-led language and literacy movement,
harnessing the world’s most popular game and empowering non-traditional
educators to become efective tutors. Its user-friendly, comprehensive toolkit guides
users through the teaching process, enabling soccer enthusiasts, volunteers, and
parents to confidently lead engaging English language and literacy sessions. This
approach expands education beyond conventional classrooms, turning the world’s
passion for soccer into widespread educational impact in communities.
Key Features:
• Common Soccer Story: By using the hugely popular Jamie Johnson series
adapted to diferent proficiency levels, the Soccer Reader Method enables
diversified teaching in mixed-ability classrooms, fostering inclusive discussions and
collaborative learning while accommodating individual needs.
• Holistic Language Development: Our program targets all four crucial language
skills – reading, listening, speaking, and writing – the essential building blocks of
language proficiency.
• Interactive Learning: Engaging activities transform vocabulary, grammar, fluency,
and pronunciation exercises into challenges that students eagerly enjoy.
• Inclusive Design: Whether an avid reader, a reluctant learner, an ESL student, or
someone with special educational needs like dyslexia, The Soccer Reader Method
adapts to your students’ unique learning styles.
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Outcomes
Skills developed
Aspects of language
Foundations
Hook
Introduction
Empowering Learners, Inspiring Success
The Soccer Reader Method™ doesn't just teach language; it cultivates:
• Motivated students who can’t wait for their next lesson
• Confident communicators ready to take on real-world challenges
• Proficient language users set up for academic and professional success
• Lifelong Learners equipped to adapt, grow and thrive in an ever-changing world
Classroom-Ready: The Soccer Reader Method Playbook
Our ready-to-use toolkit – including Dan Freedman’s gripping Jamie Johnson soccer
novels, tailored workbooks, and detailed teacher’s guides – empowers educators to
deliver impactful lessons with ease.
Say goodbye to hours of lesson planning and hello to more time inspiring your students.
Jamie Johnson series
Written by Dan Freedman, it is the story of a boy who lives and breathes soccer, who
has great skills, and who wants to get to the top.
In each book we see Jamie as he learns more and follows his dream. He plans to
become one of the greatest soccer players in the world. Laced with the kind of real-
life experiences that all kids face growing up, the stories transcend football and allow
kids of all backgrounds and interests to be enthralled by the world of Jamie Johnson.
The series has also been adapted into a major BBC TV drama which has been running
for seven series and has been screened in over 70 countries.
The series is available in 3 formats:
• The original novels in English
• The original novels translated
into Spanish
• Graded readers adapted from
the original novels
Graded Readers
Graded readers are books that have
been simplified for for reluctant
readers and second language
learners to make them easier to
read. They are designed to help
learners practise and enjoy reading
in English at a level they can
manage, and to increase their
reading grade as they improve.
Introduction
Graded readers motivate learners, help them gain reading fluency, enhance their
vocabulary and grammar knowledge development.
They allow students to understand how language is constructed. Students can
recognize real examples of how sentences are combined to form paragraphs and
how paragraphs are arranged to form texts. By reading longer texts students will have
the opportunity to see language as a way to communicate ideas and opinions.
Born to Play
Jamie Johnson had a happy family and great friends
at home in the U.S. But one day everything changed,
and Jamie and his mom were in cold, wet England
with no friends and no money. But Jamie had his
dream. He wanted to become a great soccer player.
Language level: Beginner Plus
Lexile: 530
ACTFL: Novice high – Intermediate low
CEFR: A1-A2
Equivalent to a book in a grade 2 or 3 US school classroom.
Spanish Versions
The original Jamie Johnson novels are also available in Spanish. These are the full
versions of the original books, so they contain much more detail than the graded
readers, while following the same storyline. Spanish-speaking students may enjoy
reading these alongside the graded readers - or afterwards - to learn more about
the characters and situations in the story. It can also help to foster a regular habit of
reading in their free time.
Introduction
Join the HATRIQA community!
Educators like you around the world have been boosting the
engagement and English ability of their students with the Soccer
Reader Method. This Teacher’s Book aims to give you the tool kit
to fully utilize this method and the package of learning materials.
However, it is only by trying it out in the real world will you truly
experience how it works for your students.
Join like-minded educators to share your experiences and learn
from each other’s tips and advice to unlock the full potential of the
Soccer Reader Method.
Student Workbook
The student workbook is designed to be used in the classroom alongside the Born to
Play graded reader.
It is the central pillar of HATRIQA's Soccer Reader Method, using the power of the
Jamie Johnson story combined with soccer to boost learners' passion for reading,
their reading comprehension, as well as their speaking and listening skills.
It contains activities on:
• Reading comprehension (general and specific)
• Personal response to the story
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Self-reflection
• Discussion of real-world issues raised in the story
It is designed to be classroom-ready, so that even instructors with no teaching
experience can deliver efective lessons with minimal preparation.
Key features of the student workbook
Each lesson of the Student Workbook corresponds to one chapter of the graded
reader. They are designed to be 60-90 minutes in length, depending on the
teacher’s context.
Each lesson follows the same structure:
• Before reading: Reviewing previous chapters of the book and getting students to
preview the current chapter before reading.
• Reading: Students read the chapter.
• After reading:
i) Personal response to the story
ii) Checking general and detailed comprehension of the storyline.
• Talk about the story: Students discuss their responses to the events in the story.
10
Introduction
• Learn the words: Clarifying students’ understanding of key vocabulary from the
chapter.
• Grammar check: Clarifying students’ understanding of a core grammar point used
in the chapter.
• My learning: Personal reflection on students’ own learning from the chapter.
• Extra time: Discussion tasks that take real-life issues raised in the chapter and apply
them to students’ lives.
The main aim of the lesson materials is for the students to enjoy reading the books!
The subsequent pedagogical aim is to encourage active reading – thinking about the
ideas and language they encounter – and developing a personal response to what
they read. This then leads onto the tangible language building blocks of vocabulary
and grammar.
Over time this approach will lead to motivated, engaged readers equipped with the
tools to tackle texts of increasing difculty.