Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-10-27
SPECIAL DIRECTIONS AND
SUG GGESTIONS.


? Is being generally introduced. We in.
tend to give now Especial Directions
and Suggestions TO accompany the
outline Of study, which we hone will be
preserved by teachers For want of
space, We can only give suggestions
for one grade each week. This week
we give you directions for
FIRST READER GRADE.
Reading,-It is very important that
children should take the first steps in
all their school work correctly. They
should be taught, in familiar converse.
tlon, to observe objects and tell their
names, By easy questions, lead them
to express their simple IDEAS about
things which they can see and handle.
BRING objects TO the school room for
them to examine and talk about Use
pictures. Seek to establish freedom
and familiarity between yourself and
youngchildren. Print upon the black
board the names of the most familiar
objects, which do not contain more
than three or four letters, and teach
the child to recognize the Uord and
pronounce 1t as soon as pointed out.
Ailer pupils have learned TO pronounce
few words at sight, teach the letters
composing them, write and print them
upon the blackboard, and teach the
children 10 prite them upon their states.
Keep list Of words learned upon the
blackboard, and add new words as fast
as they are learned. Reading is the
comprehension or expression ofthought
indicated in printed o. written charac.
ters' The pronunciation of words is
not reading, but should precede read.
ing as preparatory exercise there.
fore, test the ability of the children TO
pronounce the words Of reading les
son, and to comprehend their meaning,
before they attempt to read it. Indis.
tlnctness of utterance, besitancy, and
clipping OF words and sounds, should
be corrected with the utmost care.
Teach the child TO express the thought
naturally, by series of easy questions
upon the lesson.
Language LeSSons.-Language les.
sons are thus introduced at time
when it is very important that chl.
dren should be taught to answer all
questions in complete sentences. In
all the exercises with children, develop
the power to express thought properly.
Correct all mistakes in the use OF Ian.
guago. In every written exercise,
whether upon the blackboard or states.
require. the use OF necessary punotua.
tion marks. Always examine with
care all the written exercises required.
to see how well they have been pre-
pared, and TO correct all errors. What.
ever else you do, or fail TO DO be sure
that you do not neglect the "little ones
who need direction and encouragement
at every step.
Spelhng.-After children have be.
come familiar with few words teach
them TO spell, always requiring them
TO pronounce the words distinctly.
Dictate words, learned in their lessons,
TO be written upon their states.
Numbers, While children are learn.
ing the names OF objects, develop q
knowledge of numbers, by letting them
count one, two, three, etc, as they pick
up the objects, always giving the name
OF the object. Write the figure repre-
sentiDg the number of objects on tho
blackboard. Use beans, spoos, stones,
picture cards, blocks, letters, toys, etc.
Use objects that will interest the child.
Construct simple examples with objects
in addition and substraction by Is, 2's,
and 3's, and from such exercises lead
the pupils to construct for themselves
addition and substraction tables. Take
the first steps slowly and surely.
Writing.-Prepare the slate for writ.
ing by ruling one side of them perma-
nently, by scratching, as copy books
are ruled, with four equi.distant lines
and three spaces, or with two lines to
indicate the height Of the small letters,
and line above and one below to indi-
cate the length of the loop.letters.
Great care should be taken at first to
teach the children how to form the
letters. Always write the word or
words to be written on the blackboard,
using lines, so the children may observe
how each letter is formed Guide the
hand in the first efforts Teach them
to draw straight lines vertical and
equal spaces distant, and one,
two, or three spaces high, on the ruled
slate keeping in mind the fact that
this exercise will aid in teaching space
aud slant in writing. Require pupils
to bring to the reading class each day
an assigned part OF the lesson neatly
written on the slate