McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson V · Part 1: Home, play and pets

5. Two Dogs

Goal: Your child reads the story of the two dogs and can tell how the dogs are different.

⏱ 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

Twenty new words, then a story about James White's two dogs: Sport, a big Newfoundland, and Dodger, a lively Scotch terrier.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

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

    Twinkle, twinkle, little star;

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

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

    behind together noble Scotch Dodger minutes crib wagon terrier country scold fellow shaggy friskily fits cellar guards Newfoundland yard harness

    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 picture together first, if there is one. Then your child reads the lesson aloud, one paragraph at a time. Help with any word by pointing to it in the word list.

    Here are a few lines from it:

    James White has two dogs.

    One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier.

    Read it a second time, more smoothly.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat are the two dogs' names?

    SayHow does Sport help the family?

    SayWhy is the little dog called Dodger?

    SayWhat did Dodger do that made James scold him?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me about Sport and Dodger. How are they different?

    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:

    Sport is a good watchdog, and a kind playfellow.

    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: yard, crib, wagon, scold.

    Check together and fix any mistakes right away.

Afterwards

Reread this lesson aloud the next day before starting a new one. Read the new words in any order until they come quickly.

Tip

Words like Newfoundland and terrier are long. Clap the parts (New-found-land) and read them in pieces.

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