PRIMARY LESSONS IN LANGUAGE BY WILLIAM SWINTON い DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY PREFACE. In preparing this little book the author has endeavored to make the study of the right use of language in its written form pleasant and attractive to the youngest pupils. He has constantly had in mind the fact that children learn best by doing, and therefore he has made every lesson an exercise in the practical use of words. Beginning with the simple idea of a word as the name of something, the learner is led by easy steps to the acquisition of a knowledge of the first principles of English grammar. While this is being done he is also acquiring the ability to write correctly - that is, to talk with the pencil properly and fluently. These lessons are sufficient for one year's work, and will prepare the pupil to take up and pursue with increased interest the study of language in its more complex relations. Teachers will observe that every lesson herein presented is suggestive of much additional oral instruction. Indeed, every recitation should begin with a well-planned talk, leading up to and helping to elucidate the particular points to be learned. The suggestions to teachers, printed in smaller type at the head of the lesson, will be found valuable in preparing these oral introductions. But the wise teacher will not stop. with merely following these brief hints; she will introduce many original devices of her own, and will amplify and extend each lesson by giving many additional exercises, both oral and written. TOPIC I. WRITING NAMES. LESSON I. [TO THE TEACHER: Introduce this lesson by a familiar talk with the pupils, leading them to understand the distinction between things, pictures, and words. Teach them that things are often spoken of as objects. Lead them to observe a number of familiar objects and to write the names of these objects.] Copy the words: Q Q Q bird eggs nesi Copy, and write words in place of the dots: I see three..... in the The.... is near the.. |