FIRST WORDS · SHORT E · LEARN TOGETHER
One vowel. A new little story.
Practice short e as in hen, blend words, read together, and share what you learned. About 10–15 minutes, with a grown-up. You need paper and a pencil. Take a break whenever you need.
For your grown-up · Check readiness first
Use this lesson after your learner can say these letter sounds: h, e, n, p, t, r, d, f, s, a. This lesson practices one vowel; it is not a whole phonics sequence. Teach unfamiliar consonants separately first. Read the title together. Review short a. Help with a. Check that your learner hears the difference between short e in hen and short i in pin; model the two words if needed.
Model clean sounds without adding an extra “uh” to consonants. Let the child look at the letters and blend; do not ask them to guess from a picture. If three sounds are too much today, model one word and finish together.
1 · Say the sounds
Point to h · e · n. Say each sound, not the letter name. Your grown-up models short e as in hen; then you try. Mix the letters and try once more.
2 · Blend with me
Your grown-up points to each letter in hen and says each sound. Slide the sounds together, then say the word normally. Now try with help, then by yourself.
Watch a word come together
Play: build the word hen
Say each sound, then slide them together: hen.
Close and open to play again. Read and try it with your grown-up.
Read these words one at a time: hen · pen · pet · net · ten. Point, say the sounds, blend, and say the word.
If a word is tricky
Your grown-up models it once, blends with you, and invites another try. These practice words are hen, pen, pet, net, ten. Talk about an unfamiliar word’s meaning after reading it. A correct repeat after a model is supported practice, not independent reading.
3 · Change one sound
Write hen. Read it. Change h to p. Read the new word.
Check the first change
The new word is pen. Say both words and notice which sound changed.
Now write pet. Change p to n. Read it.
Check the second change
The new word is net. Touch each letter, then blend.
4 · Read a little story
Read with your grown-up. Read the title together. Review short a. Help with a. Check that your learner hears the difference between short e in hen and short i in pin; model the two words if needed.
A Red Hen
A red hen sat.
A red hen ran.
Pat fed a red hen.
A red hen had a nap.
Talk about it: Who fed the hen? What did the hen do at the end?
Grown-up · Story discussion
Pat fed the hen. The hen had a nap at the end. Ask your learner to find the words that tell us.
An imaginative answer to a new question is welcome, but separate it from what the story actually says. Reread for practice without requiring speed.
5 · Hear it. Write it.
Your grown-up says pen without showing the word. Repeat it, tap one finger for each sound, and write one letter for each sound. Now try pet.
Check the writing together
Compare with pen · pet. Match each sound to its letter. Model a correction gently, cover the model, and invite one more try. Letter formation and sound spelling can be supported separately.
Draw the red hen. Tell your grown-up one sentence about it.
6 · Show your little step
Ask your grown-up to write these on paper in a mixed order: ten · hen · net · pet. Read them without a model first. Then say and write one word from memory.
Grown-up · Note what happened
On your own paper, mark each word: read alone, read with help, or try another day. Note which sound needed support. These few practice words do not provide a standardized score or diagnosis. Continue when the child blends comfortably; repeat or shorten practice when needed.
For planning support, use the existing Parent Teaching Desk.
7 · Celebrate
Finish: “Today I learned…” Point to a word you feel proud of. A little practice counts.