McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson I · Part 2: The good reader and the gentle hand

7. The Good Reader

Goal: Your child retells the story of the little girl who read for the King, and explains what makes a good reader.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 7 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook and pencil

What's in the book

A story about Frederick the Great, two pages who read badly, and a little girl who reads a widow's petition so well that the King acts on it. Definitions and a note about Frederick II of Prussia follow.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    The definitions come at the end of the lesson. Read a few together before you start:

    Petition, a formal request.

    Articulate, to utter the elementary sounds.

    Monotony, lack of variety.

    Affected, unnatural and silly.

    Drafted, selected by lot.

    SayWhich of these words describe bad reading?

  2. About the King

    There is no author's name on this lesson, but there is a note about the King. It says Frederick II of Prussia, called Frederick the Great, was one of the greatest of German rulers, known for his military exploits, his wise and just government and his writing. He wrote many works in French.

  3. Read aloud

    Take turns reading the numbered paragraphs aloud. The opening:

    It is told of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia

    When you reach the two pages, read their parts the way the story describes them: the first huddling words together, the second stiff and affected. Then read the girl's part plainly and well.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat was wrong with the first page's reading? What about the second's?

    SayThe King said, "Oh! now I understand what it is all about." Why did he understand only when the girl read?

    SayWhat did the King do for the widow, for the girl, and for the two pages?

    SayWhy do you think this story was put first in the book?

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book. Your child tells the whole story in order, from the petition to the end, in their own words.

  6. Copywork

    Copy the King's advice to the pages:

    advising them to occupy the time in learning to read.

    Then copy two definitions from the lesson.

  7. Write (optional)

    In a few sentences, describe a good reader. Use at least two words from the lesson's list.

Afterwards

Reread one paragraph aloud each day, first badly like a page, then well like the girl, and talk about the difference.

Tip

This lesson sets the goal for the whole book: read so that the listener understands. Refer back to it often.

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