Before you start: this is Lesson 57. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–56. 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.
“Pete calls, and all but Jade run in.”
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. Which hen does not come in when Pete calls?
Jade. Lines one and three — send them back rather than telling them.
2. Pete hunts by the lake, the gate and the shed first. Where does he find Jade?
On Rex the cat's back, up on a stone. Lines seven and eight. The lake, the gate and the shed are the tries that fail.
3. Where do you think Jade will hide next time? What makes you say that?
Any guess. She hid on Rex the cat's back this time, so high or odd spots are good thinking.
Checked word by word: all 87 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 57, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Pete has five hens. Jade is his best hen. These hens like to hide in the grass. Pete calls, and all but Jade run in. He hunts by the lake and in the grass. He checks the gate and the shed. No Jade. Pete stops and thinks. Jade gets up on rocks! Then he spots Rex the cat on a stone. Jade is on Rex's back! Then she hops off. "Jade is brave," said Pete with a grin. The five hens go in. Pete shuts the gate.
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.