Before you start: this is Lesson 9. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–8. 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.
“The pin is in a pin tin.”
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. What did Nan and Nat find in the mat?
A pin. Line two says it, and the exclamation mark is the clue that it was a surprise.
2. Where did the pin go?
Into a pin tin. Line four says it. If they say "the mat," have them read that line again.
3. Find the line that tells you the pin is out of the mat. Read it to me.
Line four — the pin is in a pin tin. Let them hunt for it rather than reading it for them.
Checked word by word: all 31 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 9, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Nan and Nat pat a tan nap mat. A pin is in the mat! Tip it, Nan. Tip the mat. The pin is in a pin tin. Nan and Nat nap.
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.