Before you start: this is Lesson 19. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–18. 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.
“Sid can not see the cat.”
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 was the cat hiding?
In the big bag. The story says it. If your child says the tub, read the line about the bag again together.
2. How did Sid find the cat?
He tipped the bag over and the cat got up. Listen for Sid doing the tipping — Mom gave ideas, but Sid did the looking.
3. Where else could Sid have looked for the cat?
Any spot. Mom named the tub and the bin; the bag is what worked. Ask what makes a good hiding spot.
Checked word by word: all 59 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 19, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Sid can not see the cat. "Is it in the tub?" said Mom. Sid did not see it in the tub. "Is it in the bin?" said Mom. Sid can see a mop and a big bag. Sid can tip the bag. A cat got up! "I see it!" said Sid. The cat sat on Sid. It can 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.