I have a 13-year-old boy who doesn’t know how to read the sight word “said”. He still misreads it as “speak”.

It breaks my heart.

Today, I had a brainwave. Even though “said” is a sight word, I drew “aid” to his attention. He would have heard of “first aid”. I hope it chases "speak" away from his mind.

I pored my notes in the afternoon. It seems like rhymes are a good way to develop one's phonological awareness.

Inspiration struck me again. Why don't I write a haiku that ends in rhymes for him?

Here's my masterpiece:

He sits on his bed thinking about what she said His heart wants first aid