39. Words ending in -ish: rubbish, finish, cherish

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Two beats, the first strong. Every word ends in the same light syllable: -ish. Once your child can spell -ish, these words are easy.

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:

   blandish, brandish, rubbish, selfish

   furnish, blemish, vanish, finish

   varnish, punish, parish, cherish

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.

   Sayr, u, b, rub; b, i, s, h, bish; rubbish.

   Sayf, i, n, fin; i, s, h, ish; finish.

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

4. Read the sentences

   The sentences for this table are at the top of the next page:

   When an old house is pulled down, it is no small job to remove the rubbish.

   Washington was not a selfish man.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: rubbish, selfish, vanish, finish, punish, cherish.

   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.