20. The Quarrel

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   Now the day is over,

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

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

   divided quarrel agree thus settle settling kernel equal apt parts

   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:

   Under a great tree in the woods, two boys saw a fine, large nut, and both ran to get it.

   James got to it first, and picked it up.

   Read it a second time, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWhy did each boy say the nut was his?

   SayWho settled the quarrel?

   SayWhat did James and John each get? What did the older boy keep?

   SayWhat could the two boys have done instead?

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me the story of the quarrel over the nut.

   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:

   James got to it first, and picked it up.

   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: agree, equal, parts, settle.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.