Before you start: this is Lesson 38. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–37. 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.
“Tim got his red hat.”
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 Tim want the big box to be?
A den for the cat. Line two says it. If your child is stuck, let them reread that line.
2. What did Tim put in the box to get the cat to go in?
His red hat. Lines six and seven say it. One word is plenty.
3. How did Tim feel when the cat sat on top of the box? Find the words.
Sad — line five says it. Then the hat works, and Dad says "You did it, Tim."
Checked word by word: all 68 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 38, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
"Can I have the big box?" said Tim. "Yes," said Dad. "It can be a cat den." Tim set the box on the rug. "Get in, cat," said Tim. But it did not. It sat on top. Tim was sad. Tim got his red hat. He set it in the box. The cat hops in and naps on the hat. "You did it, Tim," said Dad. Tim nods.
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.