Before you start: this is Lesson 49. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–48. 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 has not got a fish yet.”
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 Nick pull up before he gets a fish?
A shell and a wet sock. Two things — if they name only one, ask "and what else?"
2. What does Dad tell Nick to do?
Sit, hush, and do not let go. It is the line in quote marks — have them find the talking.
3. What do you think Nick will do the next time he catches a fish?
Any guess with a reason. He let this one go in the last line, so that is good evidence to use.
Checked word by word: all 82 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 49, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Nick and Josh fish off the deck with Dad. Josh gets a big fish in his net. Nick has not got a fish yet. He tugs and tugs. He gets a shell. Then his net tugs up a wet sock! "That is not a fish!" said Nick. "Sit and hush. Do not let go," said Dad. Nick sits. He will not tug at all. Then his net tugs back. Up hops a fish! "Such a fish!" said Josh. Nick lets it go.
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.