McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XVII · Part 2: Nell, Kitty, Tom and the pond
17. Slate work: the pen and the ink
Goal: Your child reads five script sentences and copies two of them neatly.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- A slate, small whiteboard or lined paper and a pencil
What's in the book
A short page shared with Lesson XVIII: a few new words, then Slate Work, five sentences printed in script to read and copy.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Have your child reread a few lines of Lesson XVI, for example:
The sun has set, and the pond is still.
Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.
New words
Point to the new words at the top of the page:
are ink moss this tub upset
Say each word and have your child say it after you. Sound out the short ones together, then point to words in any order and let your child read them.
Read the script sentences
This lesson is Slate Work: sentences printed in script (handwriting). Read each one aloud while your child follows with a finger, then your child reads them:
The pen and the ink are on the stand.
Is this a good pen?
The moss is on the rock.
This duck can swim.
Ben upset the tub.
Talk about it
SayWhat is ink for?
SayHave you ever seen moss on a rock? What does it feel like?
Let your child look back at the page to find answers.
Copywork
The book gives this Slate Work in script. Your child copies it on the slate or paper, slowly and neatly:
The moss is on the rock.
This duck can swim.
Spelling
Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it on the slate: ink, moss, tub, this, are.
Check together and fix any mistakes right away.
Wrap up
Your child reads all the script sentences once more, then reads the copied lines from the slate.
SayWhich sentence did you like best? Why?
Afterwards
Reread this lesson aloud on the next day before starting a new one. Read the new words from the list in any order until they come quickly.