Curriculum

• Paper and a thick marker
• Three large ready word cards: The, dog, runs

1. Step 1. Lay the three word cards in a touching pile with no gaps. Ask, “Can you tell where each word ends?”
2. Step 2. Spread the same cards into The [big gap] dog [big gap] runs. Count the words together: one, two, three.
3. Step 3. Have your child push the cards together, then put the spaces back independently.
4. Step 4. On paper, write The dog runs with your child using one finger-width space between words. Read it while pointing word by word.
5. Quick check. Mix the three cards. Success means your child lines them up with clear spaces and says there are three words. Then they copy “The dog runs” with a visible space between each word.

Worked example. Correct layout: The····dog····runs. Incorrect layout: Thedogruns. Three separate word units need two visible spaces.

Optional challenge. Say a new three-word sentence such as “I see cats.” Have your child write it with finger spaces and count the words aloud while pointing.

What to notice. Save a photo of the spaced sentence or a parent note quoting the sentence and the word count your child gave.