McGuffey's Eclectic Spelling-Book, Revised Edition · Lesson 240 · Part 10: Odd words, names, abbreviations and punctuation
240. Abbreviations optional
Goal: Your child reads common abbreviations and writes them with their periods.
You'll need
- The book page for this lesson
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
“Abbreviations used in Writing and Printing.” Lines of abbreviations, each followed by what it stands for.
The lesson, step by step
Look at the pattern
An abbreviation is a short way to write a word, usually ending with a period: Bro. for Brother, A.M. for Master of Arts.
Read the lines together
Open the book. Read each abbreviation and what it stands for. For example:
Bro., Brother
Some are still used today (Mon., Sat., M.D., P.S.); some are old-fashioned. Spend your time on the ones still in use.
Cover and recall
Cover the meanings with a card. Your child reads an abbreviation and says what it stands for.
Write from dictation
Say the full word (for example, the name of a day). Your child writes the abbreviation, with its period. Do six to eight.
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.
Afterwards
Next time you see a calendar or a letter, look for abbreviations together.