The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 97 · Part 7: Long words and common endings

67. Two syllables: Tuesday, Wednesday, concert, very

Goal: Your child reads and spells two-syllable words accented on the first syllable, including the names of days.

⏱ About 15 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this table
  • A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil

What's in the book

Headed "Words of two syllables, accented on the first": ballast, complex, Tuesday, very, filbert, vertex, Wednesday, concert, Thursday, grisly. A note gives the pronunciation of nephew: "Pronounced nef yu." Sentences: "A fire was burning on the hearth."

The lesson, step by step

  1. The pattern

    Two beats, the first strong. Watch for the days of the week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. In "Wednesday" the first d is silent, so spell it by syllables: Wed-nes-day.

  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:

    ballast, complex, Tuesday, very

    filbert, Wednesday, concert, Thursday

  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, u, e, s, Tues; d, a, y, day; Tuesday.

    Sayc, o, n, con; c, e, r, t, cert; concert.

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

  4. All seven days

    Your child says the days of the week in order. Which ones are in this table? Write them with capital letters.

  5. Read the sentences

    The sentences at the top of this page go with No. 96. Read them:

    A fire was burning on the hearth.

    Many kings have been thrown down from their thrones.

    A tiger has great strength, and is very ferocious.

  6. Dictation

    Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, very, concert, complex.

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

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