Before you start: this is Lesson 76. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–75. 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 Jan hands him a long stick.”
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. How did Ben lose the badge?
The pin slipped off on the path and the badge dropped into the ditch. Two steps — let them find both.
2. What did Ben use to find the badge in the mud?
The long stick Jan handed him. If they say "he dug for it," ask "did digging work?"
3. What was Ben's problem in this story? Who helped him solve it?
The badge dropped in the ditch, and Jan handed him a long stick. Lines four and seven.
Checked word by word: all 92 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 76, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Ben got a little badge for his best catch. He pins it on his black vest. On the path, the pin slips off. The badge drops flat into the mud of the ditch. Ben digs in the mud but finds a rock. He digs and digs. No badge at all. Then Jan hands him a long stick. Ben pokes at the edge of the ditch. The stick taps the badge in the thick mud. He tugs it up and rubs the mud off. Jan pins the little badge back on his vest.
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.