The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 90 · Part 6: Where the accent falls
60. Four syllables, accented on the second: terrestrial, illiterate
Goal: Your child reads and spells four-syllable words accented on the second syllable, including words ending in -ate.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
The page begins with the end of No. 89 (divert, import, contrast, convert, invest). No. 90: "Words of four syllables, accented on the second", with the note that a in a final syllable ending in ate, if unmarked, has not its full long sound: triennial, septennial, equestrian, millennial, terrestrial, illiterate, quadrennial, collateral, adulterate. On the next page: eradicate, elaborate, certificate, invigorate.
The lesson, step by step
The pattern
Four beats, second strong: "ter-RES-tri-al", "il-LIT-er-ate". As in No. 66, the a in -ate is light here: "il-LIT-er-it", not "-ate" as in "late".
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:
triennial, equestrian, terrestrial
illiterate, collateral
eradicate, elaborate, certificate
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.
Sayi, l, il; l, i, t, lit; e, r, er; a, t, e, ate; illiterate.
Sayc, e, r, cer; t, i, f, tif; i, i; c, a, t, e, cate; certificate.
Do a column this way while looking, then cover it and spell a few from memory.
Read the sentences
The sentences on this page go with No. 89. Read them:
Confess your sins and forsake them.
Unless you study you will not learn.
The fond mother loves to caress her babe.
Dictation
Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: terrestrial, illiterate, eradicate, certificate.
Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.
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.
Tip
If a long word is hard, cover all but the first syllable with a card, then slide the card along one syllable at a time.