43. Speak Gently

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   Say the same sentence two ways, once sharply and once gently: "Please put that away."

   SayWhich way would you rather hear?

2. Words and meanings

   This lesson's definitions are printed at the end, after the reading. Read a few of them together before you start:

   Mar, injure, hurt.

   Accents, language, tones.

   Erring, sinning.

   Then find each word in the lesson.

   SayCan you use one of these words in a sentence of your own?

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. Ask them to read the whole poem in a gentle voice, as the poem says.

   Here are two of its lines:

   Speak gently; it is better far

   To rule by love than fear:

   Then let your child reread a favorite part, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayWho does the poem say we should speak gently to?

   SayWhy is it better to rule by love than fear?

   SayWho could you speak more gently to this week?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   Gentle words are a small thing that does great good.

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

5. Tell it back or write it

   SayTell me, stanza by stanza, who the poem speaks about.

   An older child can write two or three sentences instead.

6. Copywork

   Your child copies this from the book in their best handwriting:

   Speak gently; it is better far

   To rule by love than fear:

   Check capitals and marks together.

7. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: gently, accents, endure, erring.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away. Keep missed words for tomorrow's warm-up.