Lesson 9.1 Contractions

Steps

1. Warm-up

   Do this: Two words squeeze together and an apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter: do not → don’t, he is → he’s, I am → I’m.

2. Teach the new idea

   Do this: Tap and blend. For each word your child touches each letter (or letter team) and says its sound, then sweeps a finger under the whole word and says it smoothly. Never guess from the first letter or a picture. If a word is misread, point to the part that was missed and blend again from the start.

   Do this: Spell it. Say a word. Your child says it back, taps the sounds on his or her fingers, then writes one letter (or letter team) for each sound. Check together, sound by sound.

   Do this: The week at a glance. Day 1: warm-up, new sound, handwriting. Day 2: card review, word lists, spelling. Day 3: second new sound or more words, heart words. Day 4: read the story, talk about it. Day 5: reread the story for fluency, play the game, quick check (10 words, 1 sentence, 5 spelling words). Read the read-aloud at another time of day.

3. Practice together

   Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.

   Ask: Read the sentence: He isn't here.

   Listen for: Reads every word correctly: “He isn't here.”. Pauses at the full stop and sounds like talking on the second read.

   Ask: Read the sentence: Don't be afraid.

   Listen for: Reads every word correctly: “Don't be afraid.”. Pauses at the full stop and sounds like talking on the second read.

4. Watch for
   • Guessing from the first letter or the picture. Cover the picture and ask the child to tap every sound.
5. Handwriting and copywork
   1. Copy: He's risen!
   2. Use the ball-and-stick lines: tall letters touch the top line, short letters touch the middle line, tails go below the base line.
6. Decodable story: He Is Risen!

   He Is Risen!

   On Sunday at sunrise, the women came to the tomb. The big stone was rolled away!

   An angel sat on the stone. "Don’t be afraid," he said. "You’re looking for Jesus. He isn’t here. He’s risen, just as He said! Come and see the place where He lay."

   The women ran with great joy. On the way, Jesus met them! "All hail!" He said.

   They fell down at His feet. Jesus is alive! He’s risen indeed!

   Retold from Matthew 28:1–10. Before reading, show your child these story words and read them together: Jesus, Mary, Magdalene, tomb, angel, rolled, alive, sunrise.

   Every word in this story uses only the sounds and heart words taught so far (checked by the School Launch decodability checker). Read a page a day on Days 3 and 4, and the whole story on Day 5.

7. Talk about the story
   1. When did the women go to the tomb?
      Answer

      Early on Sunday morning.

   2. What did the angel say?
      Answer

      He is not here; He is risen.

   3. Who met the women on the way?
      Answer

      Jesus.

   4. Why is this the best news?
      Answer

      Jesus beat death; He is alive.

   Then ask your child to tell the whole story back in his or her own words (narration).

8. Read-aloud

   Matthew 28:1–10. Read aloud.

   The read-aloud is for listening, not decoding. Read it to your child at another time of day.

9. Game: Squeeze!

   Hold two word cards (do + not). Squeeze them together, swap in an apostrophe card, read the contraction.

10. Narration

    Say this: “Tell me the new sounds you learned this week, and read me one word.”

    Listen for: I can read “He Is Risen!” and tell it back.

11. Recitation

    Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

    This week: Recital. Put it all together: stand tall, big clear voice, eyes up, steady pace, pauses, expression, a good beginning and ending.

    • Day 1: The teacher says it twice; the child echoes it one line at a time.
    • Days 2–4: Say it together each morning; drop one line of help each day.
    • Day 5: Say the reference, then the verse, then the reference again. Stand up and say it alone for the family.
12. Scripture

    He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

    The best news in the world.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 15–20 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

1. Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
2. Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
3. Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
4. Session 4. More practice, handwriting and reading, and the daily habit.
5. Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.

For you

For families. Keep each session short and cheerful: 15 to 20 minutes, then stop. If your child is tired or frustrated, stop and finish tomorrow. A lesson can take more than a week; move on when the quick check on Day 5 is mostly “Got it.”