McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson Intro 3 · Part 1: Reading aloud well
3. Exercises in articulation and sentences for practice optional
Goal: Your child notices and fixes common sloppy pronunciations and reads tongue-twisting sentences clearly.
You'll need
- The book, open to these pages
- A mirror is handy, so your child can watch lips and tongue
What's in the book
Lists of words often mispronounced, set as INCORRECT and CORRECT side by side (fa-t'l for fa-tal, sep-er-ate for sep-a-rate, eas for east, wen for when), then Sentences for Practice.
The lesson, step by step
Read the note to teachers
The book explains that the letters in italics in these lists mark sounds that are "apt to be defectively articulated" or left out. In other words: these are the sounds people get lazy with.
Correct and incorrect
Read across a few rows: first the wrong way, then the right way. Some from the book:
Sep-er-ate for sep-a-rate.
Eas for east.
Another table is all about wh: wen for when, wip for whip, wale for whale. Have your child say each correct word slowly, then at normal speed, keeping every sound.
Final sounds
Many rows are about endings: t at the end (east, most, lost, nest) and ts (hosts, tests, acts). Your child says each one and you listen for the last sound. Then swap: your child listens to you.
Sentences for practice
The book says these sentences "may be read with great advantage, for the purpose of acquiring distinctness and precision in articulation." Read a few, slowly first, then faster:
This act, more than all other acts, laid the ax at the root of the evil.
That last still night. That lasts till night.
Among the rugged rocks the restless ranger ran.
SayCan you hear the difference between "that last still night" and "that lasts till night"?
Your own twister
Your child makes up one sentence that is hard to say clearly, writes it down, and reads it to you three times.
Afterwards
Use one practice sentence as a warm-up before reading lessons this week.