Before you start: this is Lesson 56. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–55. 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.
“A frog hops up with a wet nose.”
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 is Rose digging a hole?
To plant a rose. Line one says it. Send them back to that line rather than telling them.
2. Tugging on her own does not work. What do Rose and Mom use?
A rope and a long pole. Line five. If they name one, ask "and what else?"
3. Read me the line where the frog says the stone was his home.
Line eight. The frog says it himself, and that is why Rose sets the stone back.
Checked word by word: all 83 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 56, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Rose digs a hole at home for a rose. But a big stone is stuck in the hole. Rose tugs at it. The stone is stuck. "We can get it up," said Mom. Rose gets a rope. Mom gets a long pole. They tug and tug. The stone pops up! A frog hops up with a wet nose. "That stone was my home," said the frog. Rose sets the stone back in the hole. The frog hops in. Rose digs by the shed.
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.