McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXV · Part 7: From the hour-glass to the lullaby

65. Poor Davy

Goal: Your child reads the story over one or two days and tells how Davy's teacher helped him.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 7 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

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 Davy, a poor boy who is sad at recess, and the kind teacher who helps him.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

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

    She won't be caught.

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

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

    rung Davy violet recess arrange ferns maple dainty lingered prettiest

    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:

    It was recess time at the village school.

    All but poor Davy.

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhy was Davy sad at recess?

    SayWho came to talk with him?

    SayWhat was her idea? What did Davy gather?

    SayHow could you help someone who is left out?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me Davy's story, from sad to happy.

    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:

    It was recess time at the village school.

    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: rung, recess, ferns, maple.

    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

Four pages: read half on one day and finish the next.

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