Before you start: this is Lesson 70. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–69. 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.
“Meg runs back to get Dad.”
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 sitting on the bridge?
A big duck. Stated in the story — point them at that line rather than saying it for them.
2. How did Meg get past the duck?
She ran back and got Dad, and the duck hopped off when he came. If they say "she yelled," ask "did that work?"
3. Which part will you draw — the duck on the bridge, or Gran pinning on the badge?
Either. Line three is the duck; the last line is the badge. Ask what made them pick it.
Checked word by word: all 82 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 70, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Meg and Dad made a big box of fudge. Meg must take it to Gran past the bridge. A big duck sits on the bridge. It will not move. Meg waves a hat and yells at it. The duck just sits and blinks at Meg. Meg runs back to get Dad. Dad steps up to the edge of the bridge. The duck hops off and swims off. Meg and Dad hand Gran the box. Gran grins and pins a badge on Meg.
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.