Before you start: this is Lesson 53. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–52. 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.
“Beth claps and steps back fast.”
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. Why does Raj say not to grab the crab?
A crab can pinch. It is right there in his talking — have them find the quote marks.
2. Beth taps the crack with the crab in it. Does the crab come out?
No — it just sat still. Line seven says it. That is the try that does not work.
3. Find the line that shows the crab wanted the stick. Read it to me.
The line where the crab grabs the twig and drags it off. Let them hunt for the word grabs.
Checked word by word: all 84 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 53, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Beth and Raj dig a pit in wet sand. Then a small crab jumps up from the sand! Beth claps and steps back fast. Raj said, "A crab can pinch. Do not grab." The crab grabs a stick and slips off. It hid in a crack next to a rock. Beth taps the crack. The crab just sat still. Then Raj sticks a twig in the flat sand. The crab grabs it and drags it off. Beth and Raj grin. "He wants that stick!"
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.