The Mother Tongue, Book I: Lessons in Speaking, Reading and Writing English · Secs. 352–353 · Part 2: Part Second
100. Letters that give directions and make an offer
Goal: Your child writes a letter that includes every needed fact clearly.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- Paper and pencil (a notebook kept just for this book works well)
What's in the book
Section 352 asks the child to imagine being Helen Winter of Detroit and write to her friend Esther Copeland in Buffalo, inviting her to visit, with all the travel details: the steamer, the day, the trip across Lake Erie, being met, Belle Isle park, and warm wraps. Section 353 asks for a letter to cousin Jack about trading stamps.
The lesson, step by step
Read the facts
Read Section 352 together. Your child makes a quick list of every fact Esther will need (which steamer, what day and time, how long, who will meet her, what to bring).
Find it on a map
On a map, find Buffalo, Lake Erie and Detroit. Trace the steamer's trip.
Write Helen's letter
Your child writes the letter, 8 to 12 sentences, using every fact on the list, warmly, as from a friend.
Check it by the list
Your child ticks off each fact on the list as they find it in the letter. Anything missing gets added. That is today's correction.
What a good result looks like
Example (written for this guide, not from the book):
Dear Esther,
Will you come to Detroit and visit me? Take an Anchor Line steamer at Buffalo any Tuesday at noon. You will have two pleasant days on Lake Erie and reach Detroit at noon on Thursday. My brother Tom will meet you at the dock and bring you to our house.
...
Stamps (Section 353)
Another day, your child writes to cousin Jack describing a collection (stamps, or something they really collect) and offering a trade.