McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, Revised Edition · Lesson XVII · Part 4: Dolls, birds and the old cow
17. The bird's nest
Goal: Your child reads there, five and tree, and reads about a bird's nest and its five eggs.
You'll need
- The book, open to the lesson
- A slate, small whiteboard or paper and pencil
What's in the book
New words including there, five and tree, and short sentences about a bird's nest in a tree.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Turn back to Lesson XVI. Point to the new words at the top and have your child read them:
Sue doll dress new her let
Any that are slow go in tomorrow's warm-up too.
Meet the new words
Point to each new word at the top of the page. Say it clearly, then your child says it back. The words at the top include there, five and tree.
Sound out the short words together. Then 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 bird is in the tree.
The nest has five eggs in it.
Do not rob the nest.
Then read the whole page once more, a little smoother.
Talk about the picture
SayLook at the picture together. What do you see?
SayWhy should we not rob a bird's nest?
Slate work
Your child copies a few of the new words onto the slate: tree, five, nest. 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: tree, five, nest. 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 lesson for a day or two, until the new words come without help. Then go on.