20. Double e: deed, feed, sheep, steer, queen

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Two e's together say long e, like the name of the letter: see, feed, sheep. The book's note in the key says ee, unmarked, has the sound of long e.

   Before r (steer, sneer) the ee sound changes a little. Say them and listen.

2. Read the table aloud

   Read the table aloud together, a column at a time. You say a word, your child says it back while pointing to it. Then your child reads a column alone. Some of the words:

   deed, feed, heed, bleed, need

   bee, see, deep, weep, sheep

   leer, sneer, peer, steer, steel

   green, queen, cheek, sweet, sheet

3. Spell aloud

   Now the old way: your child looks at a word, then spells it aloud and says it.

   Says, h, e, e, p, sheep.

   Go down a column like this. Then cover the column, say a word, and have your child spell it aloud without looking.

4. Read the sentences

   The sentences at the top of the page go with No. 32. Read them together:

   I love to survey the starry heavens.

   Wise men employ their time in doing good to all around them.

   And one word is explained:

   To purloin is to steal.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: feed, need, sheep, keep, steer, green, queen, sweet.

   Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.

6. Wrap up

   How many ee words can your child think of without the book? (tree, free, knee...) Write them in a column.