Catherine T. Bryce

“ A plan of teaching spelling to secure the best results should consist of a thoughtful, systematic, and comprehensive presentation of the words and spelling facts which every pupil must learn. It must contain an adequate and simple system of phonics for the primary grades, since a large percentage [Pg iv] of the words in common use are purely phonetic and present no spelling difficulties once a sane and practical phonetic foundation is fixed. ”

“ As every error creates a tendency, and if repeated quickly establishes a habit, it is important that the correct spelling of words be taught before children have occasion to write them. Every worth-while test and investigation shows the most common and most useful words in our language to be the words used early by children. It is likewise certain that very many of the misspelled words are one-syllable words in very common use. ”

“ After several groups have been studied, dictate words from them to be written by the children. For example, after lessons 5, 6, and 7 have been studied and spelled orally, dictate ten or twelve words selected from these groups for the children to write. Several groups may be studied and spelled orally in one spelling period, and words from these groups dictated and written during another period. The writing of a spelling lesson only tests the pupil’s power. Put most of your time and effort into teaching, into helping the pupils to acquire the power. ”

“ Our picnic was different from summer picnics in other ways. Instead of cold lemonade we had hot cocoa, and we ate our lunch in the sunniest place we could find, by a great rock. It was almost night when we reached home, and we all ran to the fire to warm our fingers and toes. ”

“ All children do not learn spelling equally well in the same way. Some are sense organ learners while others are largely motor organ learners. Most children are both. In all cases the order of seeing words, hearing them pronounced, pronouncing them, spelling them aloud, and then writing them, will be found to be most effective. ”

“ Refer to the story frequently and encourage them to follow the rules daily. Study the notes on the spelling of difficult words throughout the book. See that the children not only apply the notes on the pages on which they occur, but look for other words that contain the same problems.
For seat work, after every word in a lesson has been correctly and distinctly pronounced, have the children decide what in each word calls for special attention. ”

“ Review lessons should be given frequently, and these are sufficient for test purposes. All other lessons should be thoroughly taught with instruction the aim and object of the lesson.
Interest
It has been well said that “interest is nine-tenths of education.” This is true in teaching spelling. Any means which will arouse interest in mastering words is likely to be effective. So far as our forefathers succeeded in securing results in this subject they did so by interest in the old-fashioned “spelling-bee.” Spelling matches of various sorts are desirable for creating interest. ”

“ Poor enunciation is a common source of incorrect spelling. Occasionally test your pupils on sounding words. See to it that they learn to give the right value to the vowel [Pg x] sounds and do not omit any that should be sounded. ”

“ It must have a vocabulary selected and graded with such care that it will give the child the ability to spell correctly those words which he needs to use in his written work, and that it will also develop and broaden his vocabulary for his future needs. It should contain suitable directions and hints to the teacher, sufficiently removed from the pupil’s text so that he may not be confused by them. ”

“ Will you try to follow the king’s rules in the study of the spelling words in this book?
They will surely make your work better and easier.
[Pg xx]
[Pg xxi]
THE ALDINE SPELLER
PART II
THIRD YEAR
[Pg xxii]
[Pg 1]
When you spell world make the o very clear.
Be sure you do not put an h in sure.
3
HAPPY THOUGHT
The world is so full of a number of things,
I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings. —Robert Louis Stevenson.
[Pg 2]
Shoes is a word to look at thoughtfully. ”

“ The boy laughed. “You must be a magician,” he said.
“No,” said the man, “I am not a magician, but I am the king. Boy, do you think your king would tell you anything that is not true?”
[Pg xviii]
“No, Sire,” answered the boy, springing to his feet, for now he recognized the king from pictures he had seen.
“Then listen, my lad. Any one can become a good speller who follows these three rules:
“1. ”

“ Sits and smiles at the night. FLOWER AND FAIRY WORDS
[Pg 55]
Review of Troublesome Words
Each of the words on this page has some little “catch” in it. Try to find what is difficult in each word. Make a list of all you misspell. Keep this list on your desk or somewhere handy. Study whenever you get a chance. Don’t let these simple, everyday words master you. Master them.
[Pg 56]
55
Look at e in obey, i in business. ”