88. The longest words: individuality, incompatibility

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   These are the longest words in the book. They look frightening, but each is just short syllables in a row, with the strong beat two syllables from the end: "in-di-vid-u-AL-i-ty".

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:

   immateriality, impenetrability

   individuality, incompatibility

   perpendicularity, indestructibility

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.

   Sayi, n, in; d, i, di; v, i, d, vid; u, u; a, l, al; i, i; t, y, ty; individuality.

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

4. Make it a game

   Cover a long word with a card and slide it along one syllable at a time. Your child reads each syllable as it appears, then the whole word. Count the syllables together.

5. Read the sentences

   The sentences at the top go with No. 120:

   Gregarious animals are such as herd together, as sheep and goats.

   A valetudinarian is a sickly person.

6. Wrap up

   Your child picks one long word to "show off" to someone else in the family. No dictation today; reading these is the goal.