Before you start: this is Lesson 7. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–6. If they have not done those yet it will feel too hard — ask their teacher where to start.
1. Say the practice words on the words page, then the heart words. A heart word has one part that cannot be sounded out — the little heart marks the bit to just remember.
2. Read the story on the next page. If they get stuck, don’t say the word. Point under the letters and say: “Say each sound, then say them fast” — “mmm – aaa – p … map!”
3. Read it three times — they color a circle each time.
4. They draw what happened, on the top half of the next page. No picture to copy — their drawing is how you see what they understood.
5. They write one sentence, on the lines under their drawing. The sentence to read aloud is in the box below.
“I tap, and Sam and Pam pat.”
Once at normal speed, once slowly, and have them say it back before they write. If they get stuck on a word, say its sounds together — don’t spell it letter by letter.
Practice, not a test — don’t mark it wrong. If a word is misspelled, read it back exactly as they wrote it and let them hear the difference.
A wrong word, or a guess? Don’t say “no” — point at the word: “Try that one again — say each sound.” Fixing it themselves is the win.
Sounded it out twice, still stuck? Tell them the word and carry on. A few told words do no harm.
Stuck on nearly every line, or fed up? Stop — that is fine. Try an easier lesson, or this one tomorrow. Five happy minutes beat twenty cross ones.
1. Who is telling this story?
Tam. The first line says "I am Tam." If they are unsure, ask them who the word I means here.
2. What are Tam, Sam and Pam patting and tapping?
The map. It is in nearly every line — let them find one and read it back to you.
3. The children pat the map flat. What else could hold a rolled-up map down?
Any idea of their own — books, hands, knees. Line two is where they pat it flat.
Checked word by word: all 38 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 7, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
I am Tam. Sam and Pam sat. The map! Pat the map, Sam. Pat, pat, pat. Tap the map, Pam. Tap, tap, tap. Tam, Sam and Pam tap at the map. I tap, and Sam and Pam pat.
Read it again if you need to. Then draw what happened.
Your grown-up will say one sentence from the story. Say it back, then write it.