Before you start: this is Lesson 124. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–123. 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 Dad handed her a small lamp.”
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 Meg try first to fix up the room?
She picked red flowers and set them on the shelf. By lunch they had gone limp.
2. What did Dad hand Meg, and what did it do?
A small lamp. It took the darkness away and made the room feel warm. Sadness, happiness, kindness - -ness turns a describing word into a thing.
3. What would you do for someone at home who felt sad? Why?
Any kind answer counts. You are listening for the because part, not for a right idea.
Checked word by word: all 168 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 124, 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 →
Gran was coming to stay with Meg for a week. Her room was up the steps at the back. Meg ran up to look at it first. The room was dark and it felt cold. "I want to fix it up for Gran," she told Dad. Meg picked red flowers from the yard. She set them on the shelf by the bed. But by lunch the flowers had gone limp. Meg felt a big sadness about that. Then Dad handed her a small lamp. Meg set it on the shelf and lit it. The darkness went away and the room felt warm. She got a thick quilt and made the bed. Dad helped her sweep the floor as well. Gran came at six with a big red bag. She went up the steps and looked in. "What kindness!" said Gran. "This room is bright." Meg's sadness had turned into happiness. Gran sat on the bed and held her hand. Now Meg fills that room with flowers each week.
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.