59. Two syllables, accented on the second: address, distress, unjust

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Two beats, second strong: "dis-TRESS", "ad-JUST". Many end in a double s, just like the short words in No. 42 (kiss, cross).

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:

   duress, egress, distress, robust

   amass, address, assess, adjust

   redress, possess, unjust

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.

   Sayd, i, s, dis; t, r, e, s, s, tress; distress.

   Sayp, o, s, pos; s, e, s, s, sess; possess.

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

4. Count the s's

   "possess" has four s's. Your child spells it slowly by syllables and counts them.

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:

   Spring is the first season of the year.

   The planet Saturn has a bright ring around it.

   The mason puts a layer of mortar between bricks.

6. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: distress, robust, address, adjust, possess, unjust.

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