10. At Work

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   Once there was a little kitty,

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

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

   washed hours precious game harm any brushed end

   Say each word and have your child say it after you. Clap the parts of long words. Then point to words in any order and let your child read them.

3. Read it aloud

   Look at the picture together first, if there is one. Then your child reads the lesson aloud, one paragraph at a time. Help with any word by pointing to it in the word list.

   Here are a few lines from it:

   A little play does not harm any one, but does much good.

   After play, we should be glad to work.

   Read it a second time, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat games did the boy like?

   SayWhat did he do after he finished playing?

   SayWhat did the boy used to say?

   SayWhy do you think he did one thing at a time?

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me about the boy who liked play and work.

   Let your child talk without stopping them. Afterward, help with anything left out by asking "What happened next?"

6. Copywork

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

   One thing at a time.

   Check capital letters, commas and the mark at the end.

7. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: game, harm, end, washed.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.