53. Four and three syllables: literature, agriculture, narrative

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Both tables are accented on the first syllable. Endings to notice: -ture (said "chur"), -ive (a short i, and the e is silent), and -ous (said "us", as the key says).

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:

   caricature, spiritual, temperature

   literature, visionary, agriculture

   relative, primitive, adjective

   obvious, narrative, envious

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, e, m, tem; p, e, r, per; a, a; t, u, r, e, ture; temperature.

   Sayr, e, l, rel; a, a; t, i, v, e, tive; relative.

   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 the page come first (they go with No. 81):

   An attentive boy will improve in learning.

   The sloth is an inactive, slow animal.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: temperature, literature, agriculture, relative, adjective, obvious, envious.

   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.