38. A Summer Day

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayWhat is your favorite part of a summer day?

2. Words and meanings

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

   tints sheaves chimney twinkle whirl lowing

   Read them together a few at a time. Clap the syllables of the long ones. The book prints these words without meanings.

   Explain a few: tints are soft colors; sheaves are bundles of grain stalks; lowing is the sound cows make.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. Make each "This is the way" line a little louder, like a chorus.

   Here are two of its lines:

   This is the way the morning dawns:

   Rosy tints on flowers and trees,

   Then let your child reread a favorite part, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat parts of the day does the poem describe?

   SayWhich picture in the poem do you like best?

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

5. Tell it back

   SayMake up your own line: "This is the way the ____." Then tell me what comes next.

6. Copywork

   Your child copies this from the book in their best handwriting:

   This is the way the morning dawns:

   Rosy tints on flowers and trees,

   Check capitals and marks together.

7. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: tints, chimney, twinkle, whirl.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away. Keep missed words for tomorrow's warm-up.