Before you start: this is Lesson 63. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–62. 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 fox naps in the last 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 does Lin put in the boxes?
Dishes and socks. Both are in the same line.
2. Why does Lin check in the box at the end?
So no fox is hiding in it this time. Let them say it in their own words.
3. Pick your best line in this story and read it to me.
Any line. The fox hopping up and running off is a common pick. Reading it back is the point.
Checked word by word: all 82 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 63, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Lin packs two big boxes for the trip. She tosses in dishes and socks. A fox naps in the last box. Lin does not see him. She shuts the lid. Lin lifts the box up. It tips and drops! The fox hops up and runs off fast! "What does a fox want with dishes?" said Lin. She fixes the box and packs it well. This time she checks in the box for foxes. "No foxes," she said. Lin wishes for a nap.
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.