McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXVI · Part 7: Courage, temper and work
72. Control your Temper (John Todd)
Goal: Your child explains, in their own words, how Roger Sherman learned to govern his temper, and copies the lesson's opening sentence.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- A notebook or lined paper and a pencil
What's in the book
An essay by John Todd: no temper is too good to need training or too bad to improve. The example is Roger Sherman, who stayed calm when a student flashed sunlight in his face and when his mother struck his child during family prayers. A note about Sherman follows.
The lesson, step by step
Words and meanings
The words and meanings are printed at the end of the lesson. Read a few together before the reading, so they don't trip your child up:
Control, subdue, restrain, govern.
Disciplined, brought under control, trained.
Reprimanded, reproved for a fault.
Achieved, gained.
Your child reads each meaning aloud, then uses the word in a sentence of their own.
About the author
The book says John Todd, D.D. (b. 1800, d. 1873), was born in Rutland, Vermont, became a pastor in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, wrote books such as "Lectures to Children" and "The Student's Manual," and helped found the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.
SayHe wrote books for children and students. As we read, listen for the advice he gives you.
Read aloud
Your child reads the lesson aloud, a paragraph at a time. You may take turns. It opens with the main idea:
No one has a temper naturally so good, that it does not need attention and cultivation, and no one has a temper so bad, but that, by proper culture, it may become pleasant.
Then read the Note about Roger Sherman together.
Talk about it
SayWhat two things happened to Mr. Sherman that could have made him lose his temper? What did he do each time?
SayThe writer says a victory over yourself was "worth more than the proudest one ever achieved on the field of battle." Why would he say that?
SayThe writer doesn't just tell us to be calm. He tells stories about a real man. Why do the stories help?
Tell it back
Close the book.
SayTell me the story of Mr. Sherman and the window blind, or the story of family prayers, as if you were telling a friend.
Older children can write their narration in a short paragraph instead. Don't correct while they talk; just listen.
Copywork
Your child copies this sentence slowly and neatly:
No one has a temper naturally so good, that it does not need attention and cultivation,
Check spelling and commas against the book.
Optional writing
Your child writes three or four sentences about a time they kept (or lost) their temper, and what they might do next time.
Tip
Keep this one gentle. The point is that everyone can improve, not that anyone is bad.