Before you start: this is Lesson 26. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–25. 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 lid is 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. Where did the lid end up?
In the mud. It is said right in the story. If your child is stuck, point at that line and let them read it again rather than telling them.
2. Who got the lid back, and how?
Ned did, with the pup. The pup digs at the spot, and Ned digs the lid out. Lines six and seven tell it together.
3. How did Ned feel when the lid went in the mud? Find the words that tell you.
Sad — line five says he sat on a log and he is sad. Let them find the word sad.
Checked word by word: all 64 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 26, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Ned has a red pot and a tin lid. A pup got the lid and ran. Ned ran, but he did not get it. The lid is in the mud. Ned sat on a log. He is sad. The pup digs at the mud. Dig, dig! Ned digs at it and gets the lid! "Look!" said Ned. He hugs the pup, and it naps.
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.