Before you start: this is Lesson 103. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–102. 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 kite went up over the trees.”
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. Why was Ben unhappy at the start?
The box was wrapped in tape and he had no way in. Let them reread line three.
2. What did Ben find when he set the box up on its top?
The back had just one bit of tape. That is how he got in.
3. What do you think the note said next? Why do you think that?
The story gives one line of it. You want a guess with a reason.
Checked word by word: all 156 words in this
story use only sounds taught by Lesson 103, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here
needs guessing. The spelling ey, ou 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 →
Gran sent Ben a box in the mail. It was wrapped up in a lot of tape. Ben was unhappy. He had no way in. He shook the box. It made no sound. First he sat and gave the box a big tug. The tape held tight. It did not rip. Next he tried to bend the lid back. The lid did not lift. The tape was thick. Ben sat on the step and had a think. Then Ben set the box up on its top. The back had just one bit of tape! Ben got that bit up with his thumb. He unwrapped the tape and the lid slid off. Inside he found a red kite and a note. The note said, "Go and fly this, Ben." Ben ran up the hill with his kite. Mom held it up and Ben ran fast. The kite went up over the trees. Ben was unhappy no more.
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.