Before you start: this is Lesson 60. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–59. 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 and Ben have a big box.”
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 do Jane and Ben use to make the ship?
A big box and tape. Lines one to three say it.
2. What was the problem when Grace ran up?
The box was small, so there was no space for her. Line six says it. This is the middle of the story.
3. Grace has a sad face in this story. Which line tells you why?
Line six and line seven — the box was small, so there was no space for her.
Checked word by word: all 79 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 60, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Jane and Ben have a big box. "Let us make a space ship," said Jane. They tape on a nose and a face. They hop in and race up to space. Then Grace runs up. "Is there a place?" The box is small. There is no space. Grace sits on the steps with a sad face. Ben sticks a small box on with tape. "That is your place, Grace," said Jane. Grace, Jane and Ben race off to space.
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.