Before you start: this is Lesson 77. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–76. 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.
“Dad hands the jar to Dan.”
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 slipped into Dan's hand when he tipped the jar up?
A card with a big gold star on it. Point back to the line if they guess.
2. Why did Dan run to the yard with the jar?
He could not see what was in it in the barn. Out in the sun he could. The answer sits in the two lines above.
3. Find the line that tells you the card was Dad's when he was a kid. Read it to me.
The line near the end where Dad grins. Let them find it rather than hearing it from you.
Checked word by word: all 105 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 77, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Dan and Dad park the car at the farm. Dad and Dan step into the dark barn. Dan digs in a box of rags and jars. Then Dan spots a jar up on the top shelf. The shelf is far up, but Dad is tall. Dad hands the jar to Dan. Dan can not see what is in it. He runs to the yard with the jar. In the sun, he tips the jar up. A card slips into his hand. It has a big gold star on it. Dad grins. That card was Dad's as a kid. Dad lets Dan hold the star card.
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.