Before you start: this is Lesson 14. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–13. 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.
“A cat sat in the tan cap.”
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. Where did the cat try to sit?
In the cap. It is stated in the story. If your child guesses, have them find the line with the word cap and read it again.
2. What did Pam tell the cat to do?
Sit on the cot and nap on it. Line seven says it. A short answer is fine, as long as the cot is in it.
3. Pam says the cat can not fit in the cap. What does fit mean?
Being just the right size for a space. Line four says it. A hand in a mitten shows it well.
Checked word by word: all 61 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 14, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Pam is on a cot. Pam can nap. A tan cap sat on the cot. A cat sat in the tan cap. "It can not fit!" said Pam. "It is a cap, cat. Not a cot!" Pop! The cap and the cat tip. "Sit on the cot," said Pam. "Nap on it." Pam can pat it. The cat is not mad.
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.