McGuffey's Eclectic Primer, Revised Edition · Lesson L · Part 10: Kind deeds and May Day

50. Queen of the May

Goal: Your child reads woods, wreaths, crown, queen, who and shall, and reads about a May Day game.

⏱ About 15 minutes · 7 steps

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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 wreaths, who, queen, woods, shall and crown, and sentences about children in the woods on the first of May choosing a queen.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    Turn back to Lesson XLIX. Your child reads the new words at the top, then one sentence. Any that are slow go in tomorrow's warm-up too.

  2. 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 wreaths, who, queen, woods, shall and crown.

    Sound out the short words together. Then mix up the order and ask your child to point to each word as you say it.

  3. 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:

    It is the first of May.

    The girls have wreaths in their hands.

    Then read the whole page once more, a little smoother.

  4. Talk about the picture

    SayLook at the picture together. What do you see?

    SayWho will be the Queen of the May? Why?

  5. Slate work

    Your child copies a few of the new words onto the slate: who, shall. If there is a line in script (handwriting) on the page, read it aloud together and copy it instead.

  6. Spell aloud

    Close the book. Say each word and your child spells it aloud: who, shall. Then open the book and check.

  7. 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.

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