Before you start: this is Lesson 58. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–57. 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.
“He hums a tune in the tube.”
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 Luke try first to get Duke up?
He tugs, then he holds up a bun. Duke naps. Send them back to those two lines.
2. What finally gets Duke up on his feet?
The tune Luke hums in the tube. If they say "the tube," ask what Luke did with it.
3. Luke hums a tune in the tube. What is a tune? Hum me one.
A little bit of a song. Line eight. Humming one back is the check that they have the word.
Checked word by word: all 81 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 58, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Luke has a cute mule. His name is Duke. They take the long path home from the lake. Then Duke stops and sits in the dust. "Up, Duke!" said Luke. The mule just sits. Luke tugs. Duke will not get up. Luke holds up a bun. Duke naps. Then Luke gets a long tube from his bag. He hums a tune in the tube. Duke lifts his nose. He jumps up fast! Duke walks home, and Luke hums the whole time.
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.