New National First Reader
The authors of this book believe,-- 1st.--_That the Word Method is the most natural and practicable,_ because words are representatives of objects, actions, etc., while letters, or sounds, in the abstract, convey no meaning to the pupil, and are devoid of interest. 2d.--_That words of ordinary length are as easily learned as short ones, provided they are familiar to the pupil_. No teacher will doubt the statement that a pupil will learn the word "mamma'" as easily as "says" or "eyes." 3d.--_That frequent "Reviews" are essential to the rapid and thorough advancement of pupils_. By this means the words imperfectly learned are again brought to their attention and thoroughly memorized. That these "Reviews" ought to take up the new words in a different order and arrangement, in order to test the ability of the pupil to recognize them in any situation. That as soon as the vocabulary is large enough they should be written in the form of a new exercise, as on pp. 36, 44, 52, 60, and 68 of this book. 4th.--_That thorough and systematic drill in Spelling is absolutely necessary_. That the "Reading Reviews" should
Saint Columba.
The Mermaid Wife.
The Fiddler and the Bogle of Bogandoran.
Thomas the Rhymer.
Fairy Friends.
The Seal-Catcher's Adventure.
The Fairies of Merlin's Craig.
Rory Macgillivray.
The Haunted Ships.
The Brownie.
Mauns' Stane.
"Horse and Hattock."
Secret Commonwealth.
The Fairy Boy of Leith.
The Dracae.
Lord Tarbat's Relations.
The Bogle.
Daoine Shie, or the Men of Peace.
The Death "Bree."
PREFATORY NOTE
The authors of this book believe,-- 1st.--_That the Word Method is the most natural and practicable,_ because words are representatives of objects, actions, etc., while letters, or sounds, in the abstract, convey no meaning to the pupil, and are devoid of interest. 2d.--_That words of ordinary length are as easily learned as short ones, provided they are familiar to the pupil_. No teacher will doubt the statement that a pupil will learn the word "mamma'" as easily as "says" or "eyes." 3d.--_That frequent "Reviews" are essential to the rapid and thorough advancement of pupils_. By this means the words imperfectly learned are again brought to their attention and thoroughly memorized. That these "Reviews" ought to take up the new words in a different order and arrangement, in order to test the ability of the pupil to recognize them in any situation. That as soon as the vocabulary is large enough they should be written in the form of a new exercise, as on pp. 36, 44, 52, 60, and 68 of this book. 4th.--_That thorough and systematic drill in Spelling is absolutely necessary_. That the "Reading Reviews" should