McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XVII · Part 2: Sunbeams and kind hearts

17. My Good-for-nothing

Goal: Your child reads the poem and enjoys the little boy's answer at the end.

⏱ About 15 minutes · 7 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A slate, small whiteboard or lined paper and a pencil

What's in the book

New words, then a poem in which a mother asks her busy little boy what he is good for, and he gives a loving answer.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    Have your child reread a few lines of Lesson XVI, for example:

    A boy was once sent from home to take a basket of things to his grandmother.

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

    Point to the new words at the top of the lesson:

    busy mischief looked unto glee contriving ringlets noddle drew nun pressing fingers carpet wise lips embrace ponder lashes climb true

    Say each word and have your child say it after you. Clap the parts of long words. Then point to words in any order and let your child read them.

  3. Read it aloud

    Look at the page together first. Then your child reads the poem aloud, a line at a time. Pause a little at the end of each line.

    Here are a few lines from it:

    What are you good for, my brave little man?

    Answer that question for me, if you can,--

    Read it a second time, more smoothly.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWho is asking the question in the poem?

    SayWhat does the little boy do before he answers?

    SayWhat is his answer?

    SayListen for rhymes: man and can, nun and sun. Can you find more?

    Let your child look back at the page to find answers.

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me what the mother asked and what the little boy said.

    Let your child talk without stopping them. Afterward, help with anything left out by asking "What happened next?"

  6. Copywork

    Write this line from the lesson for your child to copy, or let them copy it straight from the book:

    Good to love you, mamma, good to love you.

    Check capital letters, commas and the mark at the end.

  7. Spelling

    Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: busy, wise, lips, true, climb.

    Check together and fix any mistakes right away.

Afterwards

Reread the poem aloud each day for a few days. Your child may like to learn a verse by heart.

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