The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-01-19
nv READING EXERCISES.

Tor teachers TO give long reading less
} ons. The only time it is proper to Civ,
} long lessons is when they are easy te
learn. prefer to give short Lessons
Suppose we were reading the "Elegy
in a Country Church Yardi" / All oI
the opinion that but few reading classes
can master it in less time than a week.
In my own case spent much more on
1t. Such an exercise as the Death OF
the Flowers" can be mastered with
much less labor; but both are worthy
of being committed to memory. In a
nisjority Of cases l prefer d verse or
two. am here speaking of those who
already know something about reading.
Ny method of teaching reading to be
ginners will be noticed in the future. q
| STUDYING THE LKssoS.
1t is a very easy matter for teacher
to say Take the mex lesson, but it is
much more difficult to learn it. Teach.
ers ought % be more explicit 10 assign
ing reading lessons. The first time 1
had occasion to use shot gun was
informed by my brother that 1 must
load it. / thought at the time he was
rather meagsr in his instruction; Load
it" being ali he said. 1t SO happened
that the shot went in first Any one
can easily guess the number of quails
that lost their lives with that load.
What a pupil should study and hoto he
should study il are two very important
points to be observed by teacher in
assigning a reading lesson. Pronoun-
cling the words of lesson is of great
Importance in studying q reading less
on No pupil can become a good
reader without being an accurate aud
fluent pronouncer. In order to learn
to pronounce it is necessary first, 10
teach our pupils the sounds of the VOW
els and consonants; second, to teach
pupils how to use their dictionaries in
finding the pronunciation of words.
By how to use the dictionary is mean,
the meaning OF the diacrutical marks
OH the letter used by the author. The
meaning of the words in the lesson is
tie second important point to be oh
served. If the meaning of all the new
words in lesson are not defined in the
reading book, the pupils must be
trained to look for their meaning in
their dictionaries. The third and most
important point to be observed in
studying a reading lesson, is the mean
ing of the sentences. We arrive at the
meaning of the sentences, first. through !
the meaning of the individual words;
second, by the use of the punctuation |
marks; third. by few well chosen sug-
gestions and questions by the teacher.
The lesson. should be studied on one
and recited on the following.
My reasons for this way of proceeding
is, first, 1t affords more time to prepare
the lesson. Second, it affords more
time to recite. Third, it affords the
teacher the opportunity to study the
lesson with the class. Fourth, it af-
fords the teacher an opportunity to
assist his pupils. Fifth, it affords an
to refer to collateral aids
if subject is not fully understood.
RBCITING THE LESSON.
Without a careful, interesting recita-
ton, the preparation for the recitation |
will avail but little. Strike the key |
note of success-attention- the be |
ginning Of the recitation, and keep 1t
till the close. The first step of the |
recitation is the pronunciation of the |
words. The pronunciation |
consists, first, of pronouncing the word |
Second, of spelling it as
pronounced. Third. of enunciating
the sounds in the word. The second
step of the recitation is the reciting of |
the meaning of the uncommon words
in the lesson. The third step in the
recitation is tie reciting OF the mean
ing of the sentences. Great care should |
be exercised by the teacher In this part |
of the recitation, that nis pupils may
fully understand what they read.
THE MANNER OF STANDING.
The fourth important step of the
recitation IS the manner of standing.
Carelessness in standing will beget
in reciting. Pupils should
be taught, first, to stand erect. Second,
to throw the weight of the body on the
body on the lett foot. Third, to ad-
vance the right foot about three inches
and to let it rest lightly on the floor.
Fourth, to bend the knee of the right
leg slightly. Fifth, the manner of
the book. The proper manner
of holdidg the book is step of the
recitation As frequently violated as any
other. The pupil should be taught,
first. to hold the book il the left hand,
except very large books, then it is
proper to use both hands in holding it.
to place three fingers beneath
it. Third, to place the thumb and lit
tie finger above it in such manner as
to keep the leaves down. Fourth, to
advance the elbow about three inches
from the side. Fifth, to raise the fore
arm from thirty to forty-five degrees.
Sixth, to hold the book in such q posi- ]
tion as not to bend the neck or body.
EXPRESSION.
The first essential to good expression
Is, first, clear understanding of the
matter to be read Second, that the
pupil be taught to feel and act natural.
CRITICISM.
ALI mistakes should be observed and
corrected during the reci-
tation. In order that the criticism
may be thorough, the pupils of the
class should have q special subject as-
signed to them. A part may be as
signed criticism on standing, q part
on the holding of the book, part on
NJ. V. SwrrzKR.
George Elliot says that girls are deli
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