Before you start: this is Lesson 74. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–73. 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.
“Liz has a funny little puppy.”
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 the puppy dig up by the pond?
A penny, out of the mud. Stated in the story — point them back to the line.
2. How did Liz get the penny away from the puppy?
She held up the puppy's red ball, and the puppy dropped the penny. If they say "she tugged it," ask "did that work?"
3. Find the line that tells you the lady had lost a penny. Read it to me.
The line about the lady on the path. Let them hunt for the word lost rather than being told.
Checked word by word: all 91 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 74, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Liz has a funny little puppy. The puppy digs a big pit by the pond. It digs up a penny in the mud. The puppy will not let go of it. Liz tugs at it, but the puppy runs off. Then Liz holds up the puppy's red ball. The puppy drops the penny and grabs the ball. Then Liz spots a sad lady on the path. The lady lost a penny in the grass. A happy baby sits next to the lady. Liz hands the penny back, and the baby claps.
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.