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Grown-up sheet — keep this one
Decodable Passage · Reading Foundations

Raj and the Jam

Lesson 29
j /j/

Before you start: this is Lesson 29. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–28. If they have not done those yet it will feel too hard — ask their teacher where to start.

About 15 minutes, in this order

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 writing sentence · read this aloud to them

“Mom had buns. Raj runs to Mom.”

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.

When it does not go smoothly

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.

If they want the questions — the questions page is extra; these work just as well out loud

1. What was Raj's job?
To get the jam pot and take it to Mom. Lines one and two say it.

2. Why did the jam come out of the pot?
The lid is not on. Line three says it, and Raj says so himself in line five. If they say "it tipped," ask them why that mattered.

3. How did Raj feel when the jam went on his cap? Which words show you?
Sad — line four says it. Line seven turns it round, when Mom says he did a big job.

Checked word by word: all 65 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 29, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.

Grown-up sheet — Lesson 29, j /j/ Original text. Public-domain sight words only.
For the reader
Words first

Raj and the Jam

Name

Say these first

jam
job
pot
lid
rag
bun

Heart words — this week’s words, not always in the story; the part is learned by heart

we
we
was
was

The story is on the next page →

For the reader
My reading page

Raj and the Jam

Name

Read the story

Raj and the Jam

Raj had a job. He got the jam pot. Mom had buns. Raj runs to Mom. The lid is not on. The pot tips! Jam is on his cap! Raj is sad. "I did not set the lid on," said Raj. Raj gets a rag and rubs the cap. "Raj did a big job," said Mom. Raj has a jam bun and a big hug.

Read it 3 times Color one circle each time.
For the reader
My drawing page

Raj and the Jam

Name

Draw the story

Read it again if you need to. Then draw what happened.

Your picture

Write the sentence you hear

Your grown-up will say one sentence from the story. Say it back, then write it.

If you want more
Talk about it

Raj and the Jam

Name
This page is extra. Reading the story and drawing the picture is the work. If your reader has had enough, stop there — they have done it. These are for a child who wants more, and they are just as good asked out loud as written down.
1. What was Raj's job?
2. Why did the jam come out of the pot?
3. How did Raj feel when the jam went on his cap? Which words show you?