59. Persevere

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayThe title is "Persevere." It means to keep on trying, even when it is slow or hard. What have you kept trying at until you could do it?

2. Words and meanings

   There is no word list for this short poem. Talk about persevere, fisher and patient before reading.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. It is short, so read it twice: once for the words, once for the rhythm.

   Here are two of its lines:

   The fisher who draws in his net too soon,

   Won't have any fish to sell;

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat happens to the fisher who pulls in his net too soon?

   SayWhat happens to the child who shuts the book too soon?

   SayHow could a man who walks a mile a day get round the world?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   Patience and steady effort get there in the end.

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

5. Tell it back or write it

   SayTell me the three examples in the poem.

   An older child can write two or three sentences instead.

6. Copywork

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

   The man who travels a mile each day,

   May get round the world at last.

   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: fisher, patient, travels, world.

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