Introduce the pronunciation and spelling patterns for the consonants
x, y, and z and continue with the sound of the vowel letter a.
General Instructions
Point with a sharpened pencil to each of the large black letters listed across
the top of the page: X x, Y y, and Z z. Ask your student to say each letter’s sound:
x says |ks|; y says |y|; z says |z|.
Point to the words at Roman numeral I and ask your student to read them. The letter x is pronounced by combining the sounds usually associated with k and s—|ks|, as in ax |ăks| and tax |tăks|. Again, note that you must pronounce this single letter with two sounds. The letter z sounds like the vibration noise that bees make, |zz|. Discuss the meaning of all of the words and use them in sentences. “Paul Bunyan chops wood with an ax.” “John, please send this fax to the office.” “Do not be lax in paying the tax on the candle wax.” “Maggie is not crazy about eating this yam recipe!” “Our dog, Buddy, has a determined yap that warns us of danger.” “Be careful! The electricity might zap you!” “The off-key jazz singer received some razz from the crowd.” After your student correctly reads these ten words, mark the completion chart with an earned 100 for reading the words correctly.
Recite (call out) the words at Roman numeral I and have your student spell them
on notebook paper. A few words have double consonants (jazz, razz). As mentioned before, short-vowel words that end in f, l, s, or z almost always end with these consonants doubled. When your student correctly spells all ten words, mark the completion chart with an earned 100 for spelling the words accurately.
Have your student read, discuss the meaning of, and spell the words at rows II, III, IV, V, and VI. Mark the progress chart and allow your student to place a sticker in the space provided for Lesson E.
Mark the bottom right corner of the progress chart with the date on which Lesson E is completed. Your student’s next lesson will be Lesson 1 at the start of the main unit.
Left-to-Right Reading Direction and Syllable Patterns
Initially, students may have difficulty seeing and hearing words. Pointing to the left side of words as you and your student encounter them will help him remember that all reading is done from left to right.
Words are structured according to patterns. All words consist of syllables that are read and spelled from left to right. There are no true “sight words” in English, as all words have at least one identifiable pattern. Your goal is to help train your student’s brain and eyes to quickly recognize letters and express their sounds. This is a skill that takes time to develop, but once this skill is established, you will have created a reader! Allow your student sufficient time to practice until he reads and spells without hesitation. Watch your student’s eyes. You will know that you are advancing towards your goal when you see him truly focus on the letters in the words. Comprehension will be reflected in the confidence you hear in his voice and see in his writing. Relax and smile! Now that the words in the Pre-Unit have been mastered, it’s time to move on to Lesson 1.
Lesson Sound Chart
|ks|
box
|y|
yoyo
|z|
zebra