34. Two syllables: hovel, anvil, marvel, pepper

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Two syllables, accent on the first. Many end with a weak syllable: -el, -il, -er, -ful. These endings are said quickly and softly, so they are easy to misspell. Say "tun-NEL"? No: "TUN-nel". The ending is barely heard, so spell it carefully.

2. 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:

   hovel, anvil, novel, marvel

   coral, barter, master, awful

   pastor, tunnel, pepper, funnel

3. 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.

   Sayt, u, n, tun; n, e, l, nel; tunnel.

   Sayp, e, p, pep; p, e, r, per; pepper.

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

4. Read the sentences

   Under the table are short reading lessons that use its words. Your child reads them aloud, pointing to each word. Help with any word not yet learned. Two of them:

   We have snow and ice in the cold winter.

   The farmer eats his dinner at noon.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: anvil, marvel, master, awful, tunnel, pepper, funnel.

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

6. Review

   Finish with the cards from earlier days: your child reads and spells each one. Put a card away after three right days in a row.