McGuffey's Readers · Primer · revised edition

McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, Revised Edition

52 short reading lessons, from "a cat" and "a rat" to short stories and poems, for children about 5 or 6 who are just starting to read. Every lesson has a guide you can follow step by step, with the page of the book beside it.

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How to use it

  • A little each day. Ten to fifteen minutes, most days of the week. Stop while your child still wants more.
  • New words first. Each lesson starts with its new words at the top of the page. Learn those before reading the sentences, and the sentences come easily.
  • Point to each word. Your child points to every word while reading aloud. It keeps the place and stops guessing.
  • Copy the script line. Many pages have a line in script (handwriting). Read it aloud together, then copy it on a slate or paper. It's the book's handwriting lesson.
  • Reread old lessons freely. Rereading an easy page is good practice, not wasted time. Every fifth lesson is a review page for just that.
  • Go at your child's pace. Stay on a lesson two or three days if you need to. Move on when the new words come without help.

Part 1 First words: a cat, a rat

The very first words, cat, rat, Ann and Nat, in tiny sentences, with a first review. Lessons 1–5.

  1. 1a cat, a ratLesson I✓
  2. 2The cat has a ratLesson II✓
  3. 3Ann and NatLesson III✓
  4. 4A man and a ladLesson IV✓
  5. 5Review: the cat and the ratLesson V✓

Part 2 Dogs, frogs and a nag

A fat dog, a frog on a log, a lamp on a stand and Tom's nag, with a review page. Lessons 6–10.

  1. 6Nat's fat dogLesson VI✓
  2. 7The frog on a logLesson VII✓
  3. 8See the lamp!Lesson VIII✓
  4. 9Tom's nagLesson IX✓
  5. 10Review: Tom's nag and Nat's dogLesson X✓

Part 3 Hens, ducks and kind hands

A hen and her nest, a sly old fox, ducks on the pond and Mary's kindness. Lessons 11–15.

  1. 11The fat henLesson XI✓
  2. 12The old foxLesson XII✓
  3. 13Ducks on the pondLesson XIII✓
  4. 14The old blind manLesson XIV✓
  5. 15Review: ducks, hens and kind NellLesson XV✓

Part 4 Dolls, birds and the old cow

Sue's doll, a bird's nest, a pet bird, a cow in the pond and a ride on Prince. Lessons 16–20.

  1. 16Sue's new dollLesson XVI✓
  2. 17The bird's nestLesson XVII✓
  3. 18The pet birdLesson XVIII✓
  4. 19The old cow in the pondLesson XIX✓
  5. 20A ride on PrinceLesson XX✓

Part 5 Owls, cows and brave men

An owl, cows going home, and brave men in a boat, with a review page. Lessons 21–25.

  1. 21The owlLesson XXI✓
  2. 22Cows in the shadeLesson XXII✓
  3. 23The cow with the bellLesson XXIII✓
  4. 24The ship on the rockLesson XXIV✓
  5. 25Review: owls, cows and the brave menLesson XXV✓

Part 6 Ice, mills and cars

Skating on the ice and the floor, the mill pond and the fast cars. Lessons 26–30.

  1. 26The boys on the iceLesson XXVI✓
  2. 27By the mill pondLesson XXVII✓
  3. 28Skates on the floorLesson XXVIII✓
  4. 29Look out for the cars!Lesson XXIX✓
  5. 30Review: ice, skates and carsLesson XXX✓

Part 7 Work and play

Cutting wood, a walk in May, a goat cart and a house on fire. Lessons 31–35.

  1. 31Hard at workLesson XXXI✓
  2. 32A walk in MayLesson XXXII✓
  3. 33Bess and her goatsLesson XXXIII✓
  4. 34The house on fireLesson XXXIV✓
  5. 35Review: a trip to the millLesson XXXV✓

Part 8 School and home

Miss May's rule, the schoolhouse, a quail and baby Kate. Lessons 36–40.

  1. 36Miss May's ruleLesson XXXVI✓
  2. 37The schoolhouseLesson XXXVII✓
  3. 38The quailLesson XXXVIII✓
  4. 39Baby KateLesson XXXIX✓
  5. 40Review: Henry and NedLesson XL✓

Part 9 Lighthouse, lambs and snow

A lighthouse, sheep and a wolf, a snow man and a buzzing bee. Lessons 41–45.

  1. 41The lighthouseLesson XLI✓
  2. 42The sheep and the wolfLesson XLII✓
  3. 43The snow manLesson XLIII✓
  4. 44The beeLesson XLIV✓
  5. 45Review: on the hill by the seaLesson XLV✓

Part 10 Kind deeds and May Day

A lesson in script, a brave dog, a poem about a cat and the Queen of the May. Lessons 46–50.

  1. 46A lesson in scriptLesson XLVI✓
  2. 47Watch saves JohnLesson XLVII✓
  3. 48James and the girlLesson XLVIII✓
  4. 49My dear pussLesson XLIX✓
  5. 50Queen of the MayLesson L✓

Part 11 The last lessons and slate work

Two last lessons, then the optional slate exercises and script alphabet at the back. Lessons 51–54.

  1. 51Who made the tree?Lesson LI✓
  2. 52The Lord is nearLesson LII✓
  3. 53Slate exercises optionalLesson Slate Exercises✓
  4. 54Script alphabet and figures optionalLesson Script Alphabet✓

The book itself

McGuffey's Eclectic Primer

Revised edition (this copy printed in 1920) · First steps in reading, about ages 5 to 6

Short words with pictures: a cat, a rat, a man. Each lesson adds a few words and a line of handwriting, building to simple sentences.

🧑‍🏫 Teaching guides ⬇ Download PDF (5 MB) Internet Archive ↗

Scanned from a Brigham Young University–Idaho copy.

Lesson numbers match the book's Roman numerals: Lesson 3 is the book's Lesson III. The guides are written for this site; the book is in the public domain.

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