Before you start: this is Lesson 81. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–80. 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.
“The bird turns and hops into the box.”
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 wrong with the bird?
Its wing was hurt, so it could not fly. 'It was in the dirt' is where it was, not what was wrong.
2. How did the bird get into the box?
Kim's mother set the box in the dirt next to it, and the bird hopped in on its own. Worth pointing out: Kim did not pick it up — she got a grown-up.
3. Which part will you draw — the bird in the box, or the bird lifting off?
Either. Line seven is the box; the last line is the bird going. Ask why they chose it.
Checked word by word: all 98 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 81, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
The story is on the next page →
Kim is a girl in a red shirt. She spots a bird sitting in the dirt. Its wing is hurt, and it can not fly. Kim does not pick it up. She gets her mother. Her mother gets a box and a soft rag. She sets the box in the dirt by the bird. The bird turns and hops into the box. Then they take it to a bird vet. The vet will help the bird get well. The vet calls Kim. The wing is fine! Kim and her mother let it go. It lifts up and turns.
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.