The Mother Tongue, Book I: Lessons in Speaking, Reading and Writing English · Secs. 164–167 · Part 1: Part First
48. Owners in poems, and a letter to Mother
Goal: Your child finds words that show ownership in real writing and writes a newsy letter.
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 164 gives fifteen selections from poems and stories with words that show possession. Section 165 asks for ten such words from the reader. Section 166 asks for a statement or question about trees, birds, fruits and other things in autumn. Section 167 asks for a letter to your mother, who is visiting her sister in Utica, New York.
The lesson, step by step
Find the owners (Section 164)
Read the selections aloud together. Your child names every word that shows possession and says who or what owns what.
A boy's will is the wind's will.
One step further
In selection 7, "spears' lengths": why does the apostrophe come after the s? (More than one spear.)
Plan the letter (Section 167)
Mother is away visiting her sister. Talk about what to tell her: what you are doing in lessons, what has happened at home. The book reminds: tell her you miss her.
Write it
Your child writes 8 to 10 sentences with all the parts of a letter, then makes an envelope and addresses it neatly.
Check it gently
Read it aloud. Is there real news? Did you say you miss her? Then check any possessive words (Dad's, the dog's) for the apostrophe.
What a good result looks like
Example (written for this guide, not from the book):
Dear Mother,
We miss you very much. This week I learned how to show ownership with an apostrophe, so now I can write "Mother's garden" correctly! Your tomatoes are turning red. Father burned the toast on Tuesday, but the pancakes on Wednesday were good. Please come home soon.
Your loving daughter,
Kate.
Afterwards
Section 166: write a true statement and a question about trees in autumn, then about birds, fruits and squirrels.
Answers to the book's problems
Section 164: 1. childhood's, robin's. 2. Rip's. 3. lordship's, ladyship's. 4. world's. 5. Philip's. 6. Baltic's. 7. spears'. 8. Roman's (twice). 9. Children's, mother's. 10. boy's, wind's. 11. man's (twice). 12. Belgium's. 13. Creator's. 14. boyhood's, doctor's, bee's, wild-flower's. 15. men's, heart's.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.