Before you start: this is Lesson 24. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–23. 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 pup ran up on the rug.”
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 the pup take?
The red rag. The story says it. If your child is unsure, point to the word rag and read that line again.
2. What did Reg do that finally worked?
He sat down and stopped running. Listen for the sitting — running after the pup did not work, waiting did.
3. What do you think the pup will do the next time Reg sits down?
Any guess with a reason. In line seven the pup came to him when he stopped running.
Checked word by word: all 67 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 24, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Reg had a red rag and a big pup. The pup got the rag and ran! "Get it, Reg!" said Mom. He ran and ran. The pup ran up on the rug. Reg ran, but he did not get the rag. Reg sat on the rug. He did not run. The pup runs up to him and rubs him. Reg gets the rag and hugs the pup.
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.