Before you start: this is Lesson 32. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–31. 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.
“Max digs and taps a tin box!”
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 was in the tin box?
A map. It is said in the story. Have your child find the line and read it back so they can show you they know.
2. Why did Max want to quit?
Digging was hard and the sun was hot. Either half of that is a good answer.
3. Have you ever wanted to stop in the middle of a hard job? What happened?
Any answer. Max wanted to quit in line two and kept going. You are linking that to their own day.
Checked word by word: all 62 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 32, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Max and Dad dig in the hot sun. "Can I quit?" said Max. "It is hot." "Do not quit yet," said Dad. "Dig a bit." Max digs and taps a tin box! Max tugs at the lid and it pops up. A map is in the box! "You did not quit," said Dad. Max and Dad sit and look at the map.
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.