178. Sounds of e often mispronounced

The lesson, step by step

1. Look at the pattern

   Words whose e is often said wrong: yel-low (not “yaller”), for-get, stead-y, en-gine, ket-tle (not “kittle”).

   The book shows the right way to say each word with its marks and accent. If you're not sure, a dictionary will help; some of these have changed since 1879.

2. Read the list aloud together

   Open the book to the lesson. Read the words aloud together, one column at a time. Some of them:

   ether, precept, prelate, yellow, forget, steady, engine, kettle

   Then your child reads a column alone, pointing to each word.

   Say each word slowly and clearly, the way the book marks it. Your child repeats it.

3. Spell aloud by syllables

   Spell the old way: say the word, spell each syllable and say it, then say the whole word again. Use the spaces in the book to find the syllables.

   Your child spells eight or ten words from the list this way, looking first, then with the book closed.

4. Write from dictation

   Close the book. Read 8 words from the list, one at a time. Say each word clearly, use it in a short sentence of your own if it is unfamiliar, then say it again.

   Your child writes each word on a slate or paper. No peeking at the book.

5. Check and correct

   Open the book and check each word together, letter by letter. For each mistake, your child looks at the right spelling, says it, spells it aloud, and writes it correctly three times.

   Add any word that was missed to a hard-words list.

6. Quick review

   Ask three or four words from the hard-words list, or from the last lesson if the list is empty. Words spelled right twice in a row can come off the list.