Before you start: this is Lesson 59. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–58. 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.
“Jane walks nine wide steps and digs there.”
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 Pete find stuck in the mud?
A tube, with a note and a small map in it.
2. Why did they get just sand the first time they dug?
Jane works it out: her steps were small, so nine of them did not go far. She walks nine big, wide steps and digs there.
3. They left a note in the tube for the next kid. What else could they have left?
Any idea. The tube held a note and a small map in line three. Ask what would be fun to find.
Checked word by word: all 87 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 59, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Jane, Pete and Dad walk up to the lake. Pete finds a tube stuck in the mud. A note is in it, and a small map. "Nine steps from the pine," said Jane. They dig by the pine, but get just sand. "My steps are small," said Jane. "Nine big steps!" Jane walks nine wide steps and digs there. She digs up a tin. A white stone is in it! "Hide it for the next kid," said Jane. So they did, and left a note in it.
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.