35. Kitty, my pretty white kitty (poem)

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   "Papa, may we have the big flag?" said James.

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

   Point to the new words at the top of the page:

   finished bonnet lesson saved white away I've am work scamper ready garden

   Say each word and have your child say it after you. Sound out the short ones together, then point to words in any order and let your child read them.

   For longer words, clap the parts together, then say the whole word.

3. Read the lesson aloud

   Look at the picture together first, and ask what your child sees. Then read the lesson aloud once while your child follows, since it is printed in script. Then your child reads it, one line at a time, with your help.

   Here are two lines from it:

   Kitty, my pretty, white kitty,

   Why do you scamper away?

   Read it a second time, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWho is the child talking to?

   SayWhat did the child finish before playing?

   SayWhat has the child saved for the kitty?

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

5. Copywork

   The lesson is already in script, so it is ready to copy. Your child copies these lines, slowly and neatly:

   Kitty, my pretty, white kitty,

   Why do you scamper away?

6. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it on the slate: am, work, white, play.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.

7. Say it together

   Read the poem together one last time, slowly, keeping the beat.

   SayCan you say the first two lines without looking?