68. Bessie

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

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

   Last night, the cold north wind blew great snow clouds over the sky.

   Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

2. New words

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

   dug roots thump offense toad spool heaped smoothed forth apron closets dandelions

   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 day, Bessie thought how nice it would be to have a garden with only wild flowers in it.

   "Oh," said Bessie, "I can take my apron."

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat kind of garden did Bessie want?

   SayWhat did her aunt give her to carry the flowers?

   SayWhat startled Bessie on the hillside?

   SayWhat did Bessie do when the bell rang?

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me part one of Bessie's story.

   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:

   Take care of it, birdie; and don't jump on my flowers, Mr. Toad.

   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: dug, roots, toad, apron.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away.