Suggestions for Study
At the end of many lessons, or groups of lessons, will be found suggestions for the pupils to use in their study. The teacher should call attention to these. They will be of great help to the pupil if he has been taught how to use them. They are, however, incomplete owing to the lack of space, and the wise teacher will find other suggestions to give the pupils as she finds, through the correcting of papers, other difficulties which arise in the spelling of particular words.
Abbreviations
The use of the capital letter has been presented in connection with the beginning of the sentence, and the spelling of the names of the months and of proper names. In the third grade the names of the days have been added, and a few abbreviations. (See Lessons 100, 101, 114, 115, 124, etc.) These should be thoroughly taught with emphasis on the use of the period.
Preparation for Dictionary Work
1. Early in the year have the pupils arrange the words in any lesson, lessons, or on a page, in alphabetical order; as, Lessons 22–25, page 15. Pupils write as follows:
| A. | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| around | bowl | clean | dash | etc. |
| beside | cash | |||
| bottom | ||||
| bean |
2. Have the pupils turn to the third grade vocabulary, page 43.
(a) Have them make an alphabetical list of words from the vocabulary; as, able, beam, cage, daily, etc.
(b) Finding Words Quickly. Teacher says, “Read this list of words until you find the word cane.” After the pupils have complied the teacher says, “Count all the words you read before you found the word cane.” Pupils count and answer, “Seventy-one.” Teacher asks, “How could I have saved time in finding this word?” The pupils easily discover the fact that they can save time by looking for the word among the words beginning with the same letter. The teacher tests and proves this to be true by calling for other words; as, “With what letter does face begin? Where shall we find it?” Pupils answer, “Face begins with f; we shall find it with the words beginning with f.” They do so. Teacher asks, “How many words did you have to read before finding the word face? How many do you think you would have to read if you counted from the beginning?” Conclusion to be discovered and expressed by the pupils: An alphabetical arrangement of words saves time in finding any particular word.