McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LVI · Part 6: Owls, old men and honest boys

56. A Good Old Man

Goal: Your child reads the story over one or two days and tells how it ends.

⏱ About 20 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

A short word list, then a longer story about a poor old man who cares for his two granddaughters while their father is away at sea.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

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

    I know God made the sun

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

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

    hoe grave knock except droll hymn prayed cottage

    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:

    There once lived an old man in a snug, little cottage.

    It had two rooms and only two windows.

    If it is long, stop at a good place and finish tomorrow.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWho lived with the old man?

    SayWhere was the girls' father?

    SayHow did the girls help their grandfather?

    SayWhat happened one cold night?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me the story of the good old man and his granddaughters.

    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:

    There once lived an old man in a snug, little cottage.

    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: hoe, knock, hymn, prayed.

    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

This lesson runs over four pages. Read half on one day and finish the next.

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