33. The Fireside

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   The tiger is a giant cat.

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

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

   then usual cousin fireside sewing Katie better crackle knitting perhaps Jane reason to-night happier instructive

   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:

   One winter night, Mrs. Lord and her two little girls sat by a bright fire in their pleasant home.

   The girls were sewing, and their mother was busy at her knitting.

   If it is long, stop at a good place and finish tomorrow.

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat were the girls and their mother doing?

   SayWhy did the fire seem brighter to Katie?

   SayWhat did the girls do the night before, with cousin Jane?

   SayDo you feel happier after a busy day or an idle one?

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me what Katie and her mother talked about by the fire.

   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:

   We feel happy because we have been busy.

   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: better, reason, usual, cousin.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.