100. C and g at the end of a strong syllable: tragic, agile, acid

The lesson, step by step

1. Review

   Read the end of No. 132 at the top of the page.

2. The pattern

   When a c or g ends a strong syllable and an e, i or y follows, it is soft: c says s and g says j. "AG-ile" (aj-il), "AC-id" (as-id), "LEG-i-ble" (lej-i-ble). The book prints the rule over the table.

3. Read the table aloud

   Read the table aloud together, a column at a time. You say a word, your child says it back while pointing to it. Then your child reads a column alone. Some of the words:

   tragic, agitate, agile, legible

   acid, vigilant, regimen

4. Spell aloud by syllables

   Spell each word a syllable at a time, the way Webster's pupils did: spell the first syllable and say it, spell the next and say it, then say the whole word.

   Saya, g, ag; i, l, e, ile; agile.

   Saya, c, ac; i, d, id; acid.

   Do a column this way while looking, then cover it and spell a few from memory.

5. Read the rule

   Read the heading together:

   In the following, c or g ending a syllable having a primary or a secondary accent, is sounded as s and j respectively.

   "Respectively" means in that order: c as s, g as j.

6. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: tragic, agile, legible, acid, vigilant.

   Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.