McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, Revised Edition · Lesson I · Part 1: First words: a cat, a rat
1. a cat, a rat
Goal: Your child reads the words a, cat, rat and and, and reads the short lines on the page.
You'll need
- The book, open to the lesson
- A slate, small whiteboard or paper and pencil
What's in the book
The first lesson: the new words a, cat, rat and and, with pictures, and a few tiny lines made only from them. The two alphabet pages just before it show the capital and small letters.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Turn back to the alphabet pages just before this lesson. Point to a few letters and say their names together, especially c, a, t and r. No need to know them all yet.
Meet the new words
Point to each new word at the top of the page. Say it clearly, then your child says it back.
cat rat a and
For short words, sound them out together, slowly, then fast. Mix up the order and ask your child to point to each word as you say it.
Read the sentences
Your child reads the sentences aloud, pointing to each word. Help by sounding out, not by telling, when you can. For example:
A cat and a rat.
Then read the whole page once more, a little smoother.
Talk about the picture
SayLook at the picture together. What do you see?
SayWhich one is the cat? Which one is the rat?
Slate work
Your child copies a few of the new words onto the slate: cat, rat. If there is a line in script (handwriting) on the page, read it aloud together and copy it instead.
Spell aloud
Close the book. Say each word and your child spells it aloud: cat, rat. Then open the book and check.
Wrap up
Your child reads the whole lesson one last time, or just the favorite sentence. Stop while it is still fun.
Afterwards
Reread this page each day until your child can read it without help, then go on.
Tip
Cat and rat differ by only one letter. Cover the first letter with your finger and show that the rest, -at, is the same in both.