Before you start: this is Lesson 67. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–66. 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.
“At sunset Tom digs for his hotdog.”
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 was in Tom's backpack?
A hotdog and a napkin. Then the kitten slips in too. Stated in the story — have them find the lines instead of listing it for them.
2. Why is Tom upset?
The kitten sat on his hotdog and made it a mess. If they only say "the kitten," ask "and what did the kitten do?"
3. How did Tom feel when he found the kitten on his hotdog? Which word tells you?
Upset — line eight says so. Then Dad hands him a muffin and he grins, which turns it round.
Checked word by word: all 94 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 67, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Tom and Dan go to camp with Dad and Dan's kitten. Tom packs his backpack with a hotdog and napkin. They hop up the big hill to the camp. At the top Tom sets his backpack on the grass. Tom and Dan help Dad set up the tent. The kitten slips into the backpack! At sunset Tom digs for his hotdog. The kitten is sitting on it! Tom is upset. The hotdog is a mess. The napkin is wet. Dad hands him a muffin and Tom grins. The kitten naps as the sun sets.
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.