Morning Codes

Morning codes give a child a chance to gain information by reading, even though his skills are still very limited.

The parent sets up a little "scavenger hunt", hiding bits of paper with clues on them. The child decodes the clues and finds or gets a little surprise (a sticker, a coin, a lollipop) at the end.

For instance, for the first game the parent would put a piece of paper with the word "hat" on it on the breakfast table or the child's desk. The child would read it and look about in the family's hats until he found another slip of paper. This one would say "bag", so he would start searching the house for bags and eventually come across a tootsie roll or something. The clues line up with the lessons of the Phonics Reading Program. Depending on your child's age and skill, you might use all four clues for a lesson in one morning, or continue the lesson over several days and make two smaller games.

Lesson 1

hat

bag

Dad’s hat

cat’s nap

Lesson 2 

mat

pan

fan

ham can

Lesson 3 

Mom’s hat

pot

mop

hot spot

Lesson 4 

mug

gum

Dad’s cup

mud

Lesson 5 

Mom’s hand

Mom’s bag

bat and cap

dog’s cot

Lesson 6

red hat

bed

cat’s bed

pen

Lesson 7

big bed

big pan

big pot

spot to sit

Lesson 8

Look in a big bag.

Look on the red mat.

Look in the clock.

Look in your bed.

Lesson 9

Mom bakes in here.

Look by a bike.

Look by the games.

Take a look at Dad’s hat.

Lesson 10

We make ice here.

Look at page five.

Look for a lot of lace.

I can see your face.

Lesson 11

I say “June” and “May”.

Just wait.

You use this to pay.

What do you use to play?

Lesson 12

You use this to read.

Look in Dad’s seat.

What do you put on your feet?

In this place is lots of meat.

Lesson 13

You lay here last night.

Look to your right.

Look up high today.

I lie to the left this time.

Lesson 14

Look in your coat.

This time, look below your coat.

Look for a big bowl.

Look by the road.

Lesson 15

Find a few beads and take them to Mom.

Look for something new in your room.

Look for something that says “moo”.

Look in the place you go to see the moon.

Lesson 16

Look by a big tree.

Where are you when you have dreams?

Look for a fake truck.

Drag the box from the side of the room.

Lesson 17

Look for something that you catch.

Where do we keep the cheese?

There is a bag of chips in an odd place.

Where would you make a batch of pancakes?

Lesson 18

Look for something that shines.

Find all three fish, and the prize will be yours.

Where do we put those bags of trash?

Stand by the bush, and I’ll be within your sight.

Lesson 19

Did someone draw a mean cat last night?

Look on the lawn.

Where do we keep raw meat?

Where were you at dawn?

Lesson 20

Look in the toy box.

Where do we put extra coins?

Cross the room, but avoid red spots.

Go back to where you began, and hum the “Ode to Joy”.

Lesson 21

How do you spell your last name?

Look for something round and blue.

Go outside and look around the steps.

Now spell the name of the beast that says “moo”.

Lesson 22

Look for something that smells good.

Look for something that’s on a hook.

Look for a big stack of books.

Find something soft that you put on your foot.

Lesson 23

Look at the hood of the car.

Look for something very sharp.

Find something that is cold, white, and hard.

Now go find a deck of cards.

Lesson 24

Look inside the bag of corn.

What’s stuck to the bedroom door?

Find four round things.

Now find four more.

Lesson 25

Where does the cat leave her fur?

Look for something you use to stir.

Get a sheet of paper and draw a girl.

Turn around three times with your hands on your mouth.