The Mother Tongue, Book I: Lessons in Speaking, Reading and Writing English · Secs. 6–10 · Part 1: Part First
3. Proverbs and the capital at the start
Goal: Your child begins every written sentence with a capital letter and can explain a few old proverbs.
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 6 shows some proverbs in handwriting and gives the rule for a capital letter at the start of every sentence. Section 7 gives six printed proverbs to copy. Sections 8 to 10 ask for sentences about school, answers to questions about the child, and a description of a dog.
The lesson, step by step
What is a proverb?
Read page 10 together. A proverb is an old saying that people kept because it was worth keeping.
Ask: Do you know any sayings grown-ups use? ("Practice makes perfect" is one.)
Read the proverbs (Section 7)
Read the six proverbs together and talk about what each one means, one at a time.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Let your child guess first. Then give a short meaning if needed (see Answers).
The rule
Look at the proverbs. Every one starts with a capital letter.
Every Sentence should begin with a Capital Letter.
Copy carefully
Your child copies the six proverbs from Section 7, slowly and neatly, with the capital at the start and the period at the end. Copying from a good model is how this book teaches.
Write your own (choose one)
Pick one of the book's three tasks:
- Section 8: 5 to 7 sentences about where you do your lessons (the book says "your school").
- Section 9: answer the six questions in whole sentences ("My name is ...").
- Section 10: 5 sentences about a dog you know: his name, his color, what he can do, what he eats, how he is cared for.
Talk through the answers aloud first.
Check it gently
Your child reads the sentences aloud. Then ask: "Does every sentence start with a capital?" Let them check each one with a finger and fix any that don't.
One more thing only, if you like: a period at the end of each.
What a good result looks like
Example (written for this guide, not from the book):
Our neighbor's dog is named Biscuit. He is brown with one white ear. He can catch a ball in the air. He eats dog food and the crusts of our sandwiches. His owner walks him twice a day.
Afterwards
Say one of the proverbs each day this week and ask your child to tell when it would fit.
Answers to the book's problems
Possible meanings (any sensible explanation is fine): A new broom sweeps clean: someone new to a job works hard and changes things at first. Still waters run deep: a quiet person may think and feel a great deal. It is never too late to mend: you can always change and do better. Straws show which way the wind blows: small signs show what is going on. Make hay while the sun shines: use a good chance while you have it. A stitch in time saves nine: fix a small problem now and you avoid a bigger one later.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.