Before you start: this is Lesson 44. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–43. 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.
“Nick picks it up and backs up.”
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 does the duck tap at after the sack?
Nick's red sock. This is stated in the story — if they guess, have them find the line with the word sock in it.
2. Why does a bun fall off?
Nick sat back when the duck tapped at his sock. You are listening for the chain of events, not just "it fell."
3. What did the duck want in this story? How did it get it?
A bun. It tugged the sack, then tapped his sock until one fell off. Lines three to seven.
Checked word by word: all 55 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 44, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Nick and Dad sit on the deck. Nick has a sack of buns. A duck tugs at the sack! Nick picks it up and backs up. The duck taps at his red sock. Nick sits back and a bun falls off. The duck gets it. "What luck!" said Dad. It goes to Nick and 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.