Words that are not Phonetic
Most so called non-phonetic words contain some particular letter, or combination of letters, that makes the spelling difficult. If this difficulty is clearly pointed out, it is half overcome. Find, with the pupils, the “catch” in each word; emphasize it by underlining, or by writing it in colored chalk, or by focusing the children’s attention on it in some way. Then have them concentrate their energy in mastering it.
Read with the children the story addressed to them at the beginning of their book, “[The King’s Rules].” Refer to the story frequently and encourage them to follow the rules daily. Study the notes on the spelling of difficult words throughout the book. See that the children not only apply the notes on the pages on which they occur, but look for other words that contain the same problems.
For seat work, after every word in a lesson has been correctly and distinctly pronounced, have the children decide what in each word calls for special attention. This they may do by copying the word and indicating in some way the difficulty as by underlining. Or they may make little notes based on those in their book.
Make your children keen to detect and overcome these special difficulties, and their interest will secure excellent results.
Review Words
From time to time pages of review words are given. These lists are made up of commonly used, often misspelled, words. Call the children’s attention over and over again to the difficulties in these words. Use some of them daily. Hold the children to the correct spelling of them in all written work. Make opportunities to use them. Keep a record in plain sight, showing the children’s progress in the mastery of these words. Make the mastery of these words a personal matter to yourself, even to the extent of considering your teaching a failure if every child in the third year does not form the habit of spelling correctly the words on page [30], and every child in the fourth year those on page [75]. Call attention to these pages at the beginning of the year, and arouse the children’s interest and ambition to master the words as early as possible.
Quotations
The sentences, proverbs, poems, myths, and various quotations are carefully selected for certain definite purposes:
1. They review the words that have been taught.