Before you start: this is Lesson 69. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–68. 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.
“Dan pitches a stick up the hill.”
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. Where did the stick land when Dan pitched it to the top?
In a wet ditch by the path. Stated in the story — have them reread that line rather than telling them.
2. Why does Dan have a patch of mud on his pants?
He hopped into the ditch to get the stick himself. Cause and effect — if they say "mud," ask "how did he get in the mud?"
3. What was the problem when the stick landed in the ditch? Who sorted it out?
The pup would not go in. Dan hopped in and got the stick himself. Lines six to eight.
Checked word by word: all 98 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 69, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Dan and his pup like a game of catch. Dan pitches a stick up the hill. The pup runs and catches it. Dan claps. Then Dan pitches the stick to the top. It lands in a wet ditch by the path. The pup will not go in the ditch. Dan calls it, but the pup will not go. So Dan hops in and catches the stick. His pants have a big patch of mud. He pitches the stick back up the hill. This time the pup catches it. Dan grins. Mom hands Dan a rag for his pants.
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.