Before you start: this is Lesson 10. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–9. 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.
“Pam and Tim sit at the pit.”
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 Pam and Tim see drawn on the map?
A pit. Line two says it. Tapping at it, in line three, is them pointing at the spot.
2. What was inside the tin?
A tin man. Line six says it. Let them read that line back rather than being told.
3. Pam and Tim still have the map. What do you think they will dig up next?
Any guess of their own. The map led them to a pit last time, so a reason from that is a bonus.
Checked word by word: all 48 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 10, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Pam and Tim sit. It is a map! A pit is in the map! Tap at it, Tim. Tap, tap. Pam and Tim sit at the pit. A tin is in the pit. Tip it! A tin man is in it! Pam and Tim pat the tin man.
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.