The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-05-25
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
Edited by ]. W. JOHNSON, Co. supt
TEACHING TO READ.
BY PROF. T. L. SHAW.

Various devices can be employed tC
| render even A. B. G. method tolerable.
ta) One can commence the work OF
teaching with such letters as have some
marked popularity of formation recogniz,
ed by child, and not difficult to initiate
on the blackboard or on the slate. The
children may produce and reproduce the
| forms, and in this way thoroughly asso,
ciate them with the names, taking single
letter for single lesson, and one or two
additional for each successive lesson.
~ The letters may be printed on
| cards, which can be held in the hand or
hung upon the wall. n
IF small cards for hand use are employ
ed, the first one may have single letter
upon it, or on one side small letter and
a corresponding capital on the other, the
small letter being taught first. The child
rem may copy this letter as already sug-
gested, upon states or blackboard. Then
card may be used with this letter, and
one or two more upon it. the additional
one being taught, learned and reproduced
by the class in the same way as the first.
Then a card with these and others added
may be presented; and so on, until the
names and forms of all the letters are
learned and associated together.
In connection with this work children
may be taught lessons upon lines, angles,
etc., SO as to be able to describe the num-
Der and kind of lines used in making each
letter. They may be able to state wheth-
er the lines are straight or curved, vertical
or horizontal; whether the angles are
right, obtuse or acute; how many lines
and angles there are; and what objects,
with which they are familiar each letter
resembles. These exercises will help
rather than hinder the progress of the
class in the special work in which they
are engaged, and will give, if not life at
east little appearance of life, to very
dull and unnatural task-a task neverthe-
less, which we fear large number OF the
unfortunate children Of our other states
are still compelled to perform; without
even such slight efforts to relieve its dead
monotony and fearful Weaknesses.
(c) This monotony may also be some
what relieved another way. Letter blocks
as they are called may be used, similar to
those used for the amusement OF child
rem at home. These can be employed in
much the same way as cards. But bet
ter way is to provide box of blocks for
each child in the class. Then in addition
to their services in helping the teaching
and learning of the letters, they can be
made to occupy the leisure time OF the
class in a manner both useful and inter
esting. The teacher can arrange the
blocks in various forms upon the table or
floor, and the children may reproduce
these forms upon their desks or seats.
The blocks may also be employed to teach
form, size, angles, edges, and variety of
other things. They may also, if properly
painted, be used in teaching colors.
By these and other devices, the A B c
method may be made endurable both to
the pupils and teacher. But there are
grave objections to it which no devices and
helps can possibly remove, 1t is not in
harmony with the fundamental principles
of elementary teaching; it violates the
most obvious educational oxions; it is
slow, tedious, and uninteresting. 1t COM
mences with uumeaning forms and names;
it begins with parts rather than wholes,
its first lessons are abstract, and have no
obvious relation to anything which child
rem already know, hence we cannot teach
him the unknown through some kindred
known. But there are several better
methods. For these and other reasons
this method should be banished from our
schools.
In our next we will speak of the pho
mic method, and the next the phonotypic
method, and next the word method, and
so on.
Brevlty.