McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, Revised Edition · Lesson XXXI · Part 7: Work and play
31. Hard at work
Goal: Your child reads about Ned and John cutting wood, and answers the question at the end.
You'll need
- The book, open to the lesson
- A slate, small whiteboard or paper and pencil
What's in the book
New words at the top (the sound th is shown), and sentences about Ned and John cutting a pile of wood with a saw and an ax.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Turn back to Lesson XXX, the review page. Your child reads two or three sentences from it, any ones they like.
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 word list at the top is not clear in our copy's text, so just read whatever is printed there.
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:
Ned and John are hard at work.
John has a saw, and Ned has an ax.
Then read the whole page once more, a little smoother.
Talk about the picture
SayLook at the picture together. What do you see?
SayRead the last line: Do you think they can do this in one day? What do you think?
Slate work
Your child copies a few of the new words onto the slate: saw, ax, cut. 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: saw, ax, cut. 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.