46. Three syllables, accented on the second: arrival, recital

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Three beats, middle strong: "ar-RI-val", "re-CI-tal". Most of these are a verb with -al added: arrive, arrival; refuse, refusal; recite, recital. Notice that the silent e of the verb is dropped before -al.

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:

   arrival, approval, refusal, perusal

   recital, requital, primeval, unequal

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.

   Saya, r, ar; r, i, ri; v, a, l, val; arrival.

   Sayr, e, re; f, u, fu; s, a, l, sal; refusal.

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

4. Drop the e

   Write "arrive" on the slate. Your child erases the e and adds -al: arrival. Do the same with approve, refuse, recite.

5. 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 often wait for the arrival of the mail.

   Coeval signifies of the same age.

6. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: arrival, approval, refusal, recital, unequal.

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