Before you start: this is Lesson 94. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–93. 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 cut the bread into thick bits.”
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 crow leave, and what did it take?
It left a feather and took the bread. Listen for both.
2. Why was the bag so heavy?
Dad had packed a second loaf and plums. Have them find that line.
3. What would you have said to that crow? Tell me why.
Any idea is fine if it fits the story. Listen for a reason.
Checked word by word: all 159 words in this
story use only sounds taught by Lesson 94, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here
needs guessing. The spelling ey, ow can say more than one sound in English; every word here uses only the one taught so far.
The story is on the next page →
Sam wanted to have lunch in the green meadow. Dad said yes, so they packed a big bag. Sam set the fresh bread in it. Dad had a jug. The bag was heavy. Sam had to tug it. The weather was hot and his head was wet. They spread a red rug on the grass. Dad cut the bread into thick bits. A big black crow sat up in the tree. It looked at them and did not go. Then it flew low and left a feather. It took the bread and went back up the tree! Sam ran after it, but the crow flew off. "We have no lunch," said Dad. Sam sat. Then Sam looked at the heavy bag again. Why was it heavy with no bread in it? He got it and looked in. Dad had packed more! There was a second loaf and some plums. They ate in the meadow, and the crow ate too.
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.