Use of Stories
That stories have helped in other branches of the curriculum outside of spelling is a well-known fact. Up to the present, spelling has been so stereotyped, so humdrum, that stories have had little or no place in the spelling lesson. Spelling, however, is the result of forming right habits and these right habits can be stimulated and encouraged by the right kind of stories. At the beginning of the work of the third grade is told the story of “The King’s Rules.” This story should be told to the children along with other stories of the grade, dramatized, and every means used to fix the point of the story. During the year constant reference should be made to “The King’s Rules.” For example, in teaching Lesson 91 reference should be made to the king’s second rule. In Lessons 92 and 94 reference should be made to the king’s third rule. Whenever a pupil mispronounces a word his attention should be directed to the first two rules. Care should be exercised in referring to these three rules that the interest is quickened and not deadened by the constant repetition and reference to the same story.