The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 147 · Part 9: Reading lessons and fables
112. Reading: The Dog and The Stag
Goal: Your child reads two short descriptions of animals aloud and tells back what they learned.
You'll need
- The book, open to this reading lesson
- A slate or paper and pencil
What's in the book
No. 147 begins a set of reading lessons. "The Dog" describes the mastiff; "The Stag" describes the male red deer, the hind and the fawn.
The lesson, step by step
Before you read
Ask: What kinds of dogs do you know? What is a deer? Tell your child these are two short pieces about animals, written for children long ago.
Read it aloud
Read the whole piece aloud while your child follows with a finger. Then your child reads it to you, a few sentences at a time. Help with hard words without fuss. Here is how it goes:
This dog is the mastiff.
He is active, strong, and used as a watchdog.
The stag is the male of the red deer.
His form is light and elegant, and he runs with great rapidity.
Talk about it
Ask: What is a mastiff used for? Is he quick to bite? What is a female deer called? Look up "rapidity" together if needed: it means speed.
Tell it back
Your child tells you three facts about the mastiff and two about the stag, in their own words.
Spell a few words
Pick a few words from the piece. Your child spells them aloud by syllables, then writes them: active, strong, elegant, rapidity.