Before you start: this is Lesson 105. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–104. 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 he went to lift Tess out.”
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 did Tess have to have a bath?
She got mud on her legs out in the wet grass.
2. What happened when Raj went to lift Tess out from under the bed?
Tess hissed. That is when the story says they disagree.
3. Do you think Tess will hide again next bath day? Why?
The story does not say, so both are right. You want the reason.
Checked word by word: all 156 words in this
story use only sounds taught by Lesson 105, 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.
Heart words — read each one, then check the box.
The story is on the next page →
Our cat Tess got mud on her legs. She had been out in the wet grass all day. She dug in the mud by the back steps. Raj said Tess had to have a bath. But Tess dislikes a bath a lot. She hid under the bed and did not come out. Raj got the tub and the soap set up. He let the water run in to fill it. Then he went to lift Tess out. Tess hissed. Tess and Raj disagree! Next he shook a bag of cat food by the door. Tess did not come. She just sat still. Raj sat and had a think about it. Then he got a bit of fish from Mom. He held it up by the tub. Tess came out to get the fish. She sat down next to the tub. Raj gave her the fish and a wash. Tess likes fish. She still dislikes a bath.
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.