Before you start: this is Lesson 66. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–65. 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.
“The kitten hides in a red mitten.”
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 did Meg do the first time the kitten got on the table?
She set it on the rug and patted it — but the kitten hopped right back up on the table. Lines three to five.
2. What knocked the candle and the bottle over?
The apple, after the kitten batted it off the table. If they say "the kitten," ask them to follow the apple line by line.
3. What do you think Meg will do the next time the kitten hops on the table?
Any guess with a reason. Setting it on the rug did not keep it off — lines four and five.
Checked word by word: all 94 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 66, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Meg has a little kitten. The kitten hops up on the table. "Get off, kitten," said Meg. It sits still. Meg sets it on the rug and pats it. But the kitten hops back up on the table. It tips a red apple off the table. The apple bumps a candle and a bottle. The bottle tips and spills on the rug. The kitten hides in a red mitten. Meg picks up the apple, candle and bottle. She rubs the chin of the little kitten. It naps in the mitten. Meg gets a rag.
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.