Dictionary Preparation

1. The order of the letters should be thoroughly familiar at this time. If not, it must be made so. (See suggestions for drill on page [27].)

2. Have the pupils read clearly and distinctly the words in any lesson,—as, for example, Lesson 1, page 25,—telling the first letter in each, saying, “The first letter in moon is m; the first letter in soon is s; the first letter in noon is n; the first letter in spoon is s.”

3. Have the pupils group words that begin with the same letter, as, Lessons 1, 2, and 3. Teacher says, “Find all the words in these three lessons that begin with s.”

Teacher: Find the words that begin with b.

Pupils: Bid and bar begin with b.

Later the pupils may make a list of all the words on a page beginning with the same letter.

4. Have the pupils copy in a column all the words in a lesson, or in several lessons, or on a page, that begin with the same letter. This should be done under definite direction of the teacher, as, “Make a list of all the words on page 25 that begin with b; with c; with d; with f.” Pupils write as follows:

barcrossdinefind
bossclouddidfar
bidcrustdustfine
bind fell
bell

5. Turn to the vocabulary of second year words (page 63). Have the pupils observe that they are arranged in alphabetical order.

(a) Pupils find the place in the list of words beginning with any given letter, thus:

Teacher: Where must we look for words beginning with a?

Pupils: At the beginning, for a is the first letter in the alphabet.

Teacher: Where must we look for words beginning with w?

Pupils: Near the end, for w is near the end of the alphabet.

Teacher: Where must we look for words beginning with m?

Pupils: Near the middle, for m is near the middle of the alphabet.

(b) Pupils find any word called for in the list. Teacher asks, “Where shall I find barn?”

Pupils answer, “With words beginning with b, near the beginning.” Pupils find the word and touch it. In the same way the teacher calls for other words. In each case the pupils decide where in the list to look for it according to the initial letter, then find and touch it.

(c) Let the pupils go through the list to see if every letter in the alphabet has been used as an initial letter. They will find that there are no words listed beginning with q, x, and z.

(d) Have the pupils write the alphabet in vertical columns omitting q, x, and z, and opposite each letter copy a word beginning with that letter from their lists on pages 63 and 64, thus:

a—after

b—baby

c—children

d—dog