33. Review: Ponto and the ball

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   Have your child reread a few lines of Lesson XXXII, for example:

   What a bright June day!

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. Old friends

   This is a review lesson, with no new words. Before reading, point to a few words on the page and have your child read them as fast as they can. Help with any that are slow.

3. Read the lesson aloud

   Your child reads the lesson aloud, one sentence at a time. Help with any word by pointing to it in the word list.

   Here are two lines from it:

   James and Robert have gone into the shade of a high wall to play ball.

   When they toss the ball up in the air, and try to catch it, Ponto runs to get it in his mouth.

   Read it a second time, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWho is playing ball, and where?

   SayWhat does Ponto do when the ball goes up?

   SayWhere does Ponto put the ball?

   Let your child look back at the page to find answers.

5. Copywork

   Write this line from the lesson for your child to copy, or let them copy it straight from the book:

   He will lay it at little Lucy's feet, or put it in her hand.

   Check for a capital letter at the start and the mark at the end.

6. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it on the slate: ball, wall, toss, feet, hand.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.

7. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me the story in your own words.

   Then let your child read the page once more, as smoothly as they can.