18. The Kingbird

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   What are you good for, my brave little man?

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

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

   berries strikes robin eagle short king rid foe dart fails sharp hawk worms active

   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:

   The kingbird is not bigger than a robin.

   He eats flies, and worms, and bugs, and berries.

   Read it a second time, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat does the kingbird eat?

   SayWhere does he build his nest?

   SayHow does he drive off the eagle?

   SayWhy is he called the kingbird?

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me what you learned about the kingbird.

   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:

   Is not the little fellow a brave bird?

   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: robin, king, hawk, sharp, short.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.