Before you start: this is Lesson 122. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–121. 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.
“Gus jumped in with a big splash.”
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 Gus wish for?
To swim like a fish. Lines three to five say it.
2. What did Jill try before the tub, and why did it not work?
She filled a dish with cold water. The dish was much too small for Gus.
3. What else could Jill have done for Gus? Why?
Any kind answer counts. The story says brownish and reddish, not brown and red — sort of that color. Let them try an -ish word of their own.
Checked word by word: all 177 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 122, 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 →
Jill has a little pup. His name is Gus. It was a hot day in the summer sun. Gus sat by the fish tank and did not move. He looked at the fish for a long time. Gus wants to swim just like the fish. That is a silly wish for a small pup. Gus jumped up at the tank and slid down. Jill held the tank so it did not tip. "You can not swim in there," she told him. Then Jill filled a dish with cold water. Gus dipped his nose in and got it wet. But the dish was much too small for him. Jill ran to the shed and had a better plan. She pulled out the big tub from the back. Mom helped her fill the tub in the sun. Gus jumped in with a big splash. His wet fur looked reddish in the bright sun. Soon the tub was brownish with mud from his paws. Gus moves his legs and swims a bit. Now Gus is as happy as a fish.
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.