Before you start: this is Lesson 15. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–14. 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 pup sat in the mud.”
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 sat down in the mud at the end?
Dad. The story says it plainly. If your child says Dot, point to the line and read it together.
2. What did Dot say to Dad?
Do it, Dad. It is fun. You want the idea that Dot talked Dad into it — that change of mind is the whole story.
3. Which bit did you like best — Dot in the mud, or Dad in the mud?
Either. Ask them to read the line their bit is on, so the pick stays tied to the page.
Checked word by word: all 58 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 15, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Dot sat in the mud. Mud is fun! A pup sat in the mud. Mud is on Dot. Mud is on the pup. Dad sat up. "Not in the mud, Dot!" "Do it, Dad! It is fun," said Dot. Dad sat in the mud! "Mud is on us!" said Dad. It is fun to nap in the sun.
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.