Before you start: this is Lesson 117. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–116. 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.
“But the stone did not move at all.”
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. Where did the mouse find the stone?
On the edge of the top step. Lines five and six.
2. Why did the mouse go back and get the rest of the mice?
She could not move the stone on her own. Ten mice could.
3. What would you do with that stone? Why?
Any answer is fine. You are after the reason behind it.
Checked word by word: all 169 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 117, plus heart words already learned. Nothing here needs guessing.
Heart words — read each one, then check the box.
The story is on the next page →
Ten mice have a den under a city shop. At night they race past the bins for crumbs. The den is dim, so they bump into things. "We need a light," said the smallest mouse. That night she found a huge stone on a step. It sat on the edge of the top step. It gave out a soft light of its own. She tried to roll it with her nose. But the stone did not move at all. Then she got a stick and tried to lift it. The stick just bent and the stone sat still. So she ran back and got the rest. Ten mice can do what one mouse can not. They got it down the steps to the den. It was hard, and they had to stop for a rest. At last they set the stone in a small cage. Now it lights up the whole mouse den. No mouse bumps into things in the dark. It is the best lamp in the city.
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.