Before you start: this is Lesson 71. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–70. 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.
“Then Ben pitches it into the ditch.”
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 ball land when Ben pitched it to Meg the second time?
In the ditch. Line five says it — point them at that line rather than saying it for them.
2. How did the ball get out of the ditch?
Ben got a long stick from the grass and Meg tugged the ball up with it. If they say "Meg grabbed it," ask "did that work?"
3. Which part of the match did you like best? Read me that line.
Any line. Reading it back keeps the pick tied to the page rather than to a guess.
Checked word by word: all 86 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 71, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Ben and Meg set up a pitching match. They stand at the edge of the bridge. Ben pitches a small ball to Meg. Meg catches it and pitches it back. Then Ben pitches it into the ditch. Meg grabs at the ball, but it is stuck. Ben gets a long stick from the grass. Meg tugs the ball up with the stick. The wet ball drips mud on the grass. Then the big match goes on and on. Mom hands them fudge and a big badge.
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.