49. Three syllables, accented on the first: punishment, interest

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Three beats, first strong: "PUN-ish-ment", "TEN-den-cy". Endings to notice: -ment and -cy (where c sounds like s).

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:

   banishment, tendency, punishment

   clemency, interest, currency

   privacy, diary, decency

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.

   Sayp, u, n, pun; i, s, h, ish; m, e, n, t, ment; punishment.

   Sayt, e, n, ten; d, e, n, den; c, y, cy; tendency.

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

4. Read the sentences

   The sentences at the top of this page go with No. 77. Read them:

   Horses carry men on their backs.

   We cross the ferry in a boat.

   The cherry is an acid fruit.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: punishment, tendency, interest, currency, diary, decency.

   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.