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or teacher first to spell and pronounce each syllable and the children repeat, until the sounds become in a degree familiar to them.

They may next be taught by the same means to spell and pronounce the syllables of the second table, viz. bla, fla, gla, &c.

Singing occasionally these lessons in syllables will give to them an additional interest.

Those children which have before learned to read will not be particularly benefited by these lessons, but it should be considered no loss of time, as it will be an amusement for them, while they are aiding the younger pupils. A constant watch must be observed for those who are discordant or listless in this exercise of repeating.

Such should be selected, placed by themselves, and induced to repeat or sing while the others remain silent, that their attention may be excited and individual improvement advanced.

During the time the children are thus taught the sounds of the letters, by repeating many unmeaning syllables, care must be taken that they do not lose their interest for reading. It should be explained to them that these syllables are parts of words. They should also be daily exercised in spelling short easy words, the names of objects familiar to them, as pin, top, dog, puss, bird, sun, moon, &c.

When the children have learned to repeat these lessons with ease, they may next be arranged in classes, and taught to read the syllables from the cards, which for this purpose should be placed on the spelling post before them, and the letters pointed out by the teacher or monitor. Next proceed to teach them from the cards containing short easy words, requiring a definition of each word which is read. Such words as are not familiar should be explained by the teacher, which must be done in so engaging a manner as to enlist the attention, or nothing will be gained.

Ex. The word spelled is b-a-t, bat. What is a bat? has any one of you, ever seen a little animal which is called bat? It is a very curious creature, not larger

It is covered with soft

than your fist, when it sits still. fur and has little ears like a mouse. Is it a mouse? No, it is not a mouse, for a mouse cannot fly, but the little bat can spread its wings as broad as a plate, and fly about very swiftly. After a lesson has been read and spelled by the children, they should be exercised in pronouncing the same words without spelling them. This will help them to know words at first sight, and prepare them to read sentences without first spelling the words.

An interest in spelling may be excited by calling upon the pupils to spell the names of common things. Ex. Spell the name of some thing you now see. Of some

animal. Of some beautiful flower. Of some fruit. something you can see in the blue sky, &c.

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When the pupils have proceeded thus far in learning to read, they are prepared for easy lessons in reading. These should consist of short sentences, on pleasing, familiar subjects, expressed in simple language.

WORDS DEFINED.

Experience shows that defining words gives a high degree of interest to spelling and reading, provided the definitions are reduced to the comprehension of the pupils; this, together with the great advantage which must result from the early acquisition of correct language, renders it an important branch of infant education. Short lessons are preferred in this exercise and should be well understood before others are given.

The teacher may ascertain whether the definition of a word is well understood, by obtaining answers to such questions as are annexed to a few words at the beginning of this lesson.

Abandon, to leave and forsake.

What should you forsake?

All that is wicked.

Abase, to cast down and bring low.

Was that man abased who was put in prison for his bad conduct?

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Abba, a word used for father

Abet, to help another in what he is doing.
Is it right to abet one who is doing wrong?
Abhor, to dislike very much, to hate
What should we abhor?

Abluent, that which washes clean.

With what do we wash?

What is used with water?

Above, in a high place, over head.

Can you tell me of something that is over head?
Abreast, side by side.

How do you stand when you rise to read?

Abroad, out of the house.

Where do you like to go?

Abscond, to hide one's self.

What do some persons do, to keep away from others?
Absorb, to suck up.

What will the sponge do, when put in water?
Absurd, very foolish.

What is it to say, I cry for food because I am sleepy?
Abundance, a great plenty.

Can you mention anything which you have in abundance? Abuse, to treat with rudeness.

What is it to push and strike another?

Aborigines, first inhabitants of a country.
What are the Indians?

Absent, away.

What can you say of the children who are not in school to-day?

Accelerate, to make anything go faster

Access, the way to approach a thing

Accommodate, to supply one with things which he wants

Accost, to speak first to

Accurate, without any fault

Accumulate, to increase, to gain more
Acid, sour

Acquire, to gain a thing by our own labor
Act, something done

Acute, sharp, ending in a point

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Adapt, to fit one thing to another
Add, to join one thing to another
Adhere, to stick to something.
Adjacent, that which lies next to another
Adjourn, to put off to another day
Admit, to let in

Adverse, contrary

Admire, to wonder, to regard with affection
Aerial, belonging to the air

Affection, love, kindness

Afflict, to give pain, and make another unhappy
Affliction, pain and sorrow

Aged, many years old

Agent, one who acts for others

Agile, nimble, ready

Agony, violent pain

Alarm, sudden surprise

Alabaster, a kind of soft marble

Aloft, on high

Alternate, by turns, one after another
Amiss, wrong, improper

Amity, friendship

Amputate, to cut off

Anchor, a heavy iron to hold a ship

Ancient, old, of long duration

Angel, a ministering spirit

Anguish, great pain

Anil, the plant from which indigo is made

Animate, to quicken, to give life

Annex, to join one thing to another

Anoint, to bathe with oil

Annoy, to vex another

Annual, that which occurs every year

Anon, that which comes soon

Anonymous, without a name

Anti, opposite

Antipodes, those people on the other side of the globe who have their feet directly opposite to ours

Antler, a branch of a deer's horn

Anvil, an iron block, on which smiths hammer and shape their work

Aperture, an open place

Apostle, one sent to teach

Appal, to be frightened, or to grow faint
Apparel, clothes

Arbor, a place covered with branches of trees
Arrear, behind

Ascend, to move upwards

Ascent, a way to go up, a high place.

Assassin, a secret murderer

Asylum, a safe place

Atlas, a book of maps

Atmosphere, the air round the earth

Atom, a thing extremely small

Aurora, morning

Avenue, an alley of trees before a house-passage of

any kind

Azure, a faint blue color

Balcony, a frame in front of a house or other building Balmy, fragrant

Bane, poison

Banish, to condemn a person to leave their own

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Bath, a place to wash in

Battle, to contend in fight

Bauble, a trifling thing

Behold, to look

upon

Belch, to raise wind from the stomach

Belle, a lady much admired

Belfry, a place to hang a bell

Berry, a small fruit with many seeds

Besom, a broom

Beverage, a drink

Blade, a spire of grass, a leaf.

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