Before you start: this is Lesson 125. It uses only sounds already taught in Lessons 1–124. 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.
“Ray's fear turned into excitement.”
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 Ray hear at the start?
A sound from the basement, then a small movement. Lines one to four.
2. What did Ray find in the box?
A small gray cat with three kittens tucked next to it. Line thirteen and line fourteen.
3. What was the agreement Ray and Mom made?
The cats can stay if Ray feeds them. Two people agree — that is what an agreement is.
Checked word by word: all 164 words in this story use only sounds taught by Lesson 125, 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 →
Ray was in bed when he heard a sound. It came from down in the basement. For a moment he sat still in the dark. Then he heard a small movement down there. Ray got up and went to get Mom. "Can we look?" he said. "I will go first." Mom came down the steps with a lamp. Ray held the rail and went in front. At first they saw just cans and rags. He looked under the steps, but all was still. Then a box in the back tipped over. Ray got down on his hands to look. A small gray cat sat in the box. It had three kittens tucked next to it. Ray's fear turned into excitement. "Can they stay?" he said. "If you feed them." That was the agreement Ray and Mom made. He ran up and got them milk in a bowl. Now the cat naps on the warm pavement. The three kittens play in the grass all day.
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.