Letters and sounds of the English alphabet

This video is designed to eliminate distraction and to focus the pupil's attention on learning the letters and sounds of the English alphabet. This is the first step in learning to read using the McGuffey's Reader Series. 

Click here to link to the first grade handwriting paper.

Click here to link to the first grade handwriting script.

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McGuffey's Eclectic First Reader - Lesson I

Vocabulary:





Phoneme Families:

oo as in:

book
cook
hook
look
took
nook
brook
crook
shook

ear (long e) as in:

bear
pear
tear
wear
swear

ear (er, ir,or,ur) as in:

earn
learn
yearn

(heard, search, earth)


Click here to get the ebook.

Click here to link to the first grade handwriting paper.

Click here to link to the first grade handwriting script.

Here is what it looks like:

Buchstaben Mini-Mappe für Gruenewald VA

Lessons in this series:

• First Reader:Lesson XVII
• First reader: Lesson XVI
• First Reader: Lesson XV
• First Reader: Lesson XIV
• First Reader: Lesson XIII
• First Reader: Lesson XII
• First Reader: Lesson XI
• First Reader: Lesson X
• Penmanship practice paper
• McGuffey's 1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson I
• First Reader: Lesson II
• First Reader: Lesson III
• First Reader: Lesson IV
• First Reader: Lesson V
• First Reader: Lesson VI
• First Reader: Lesson VII
• First Reader: Lesson VIII
• First Reader: Lesson IX

McGuffey's Eclectic Primer: Lesson 1

Lesson 1

The first couple of lesson of McGuffey's reader only requires your child to read through the given words. Your child should have covered at least 50 phongarms before starting the Primers. Have your child read through each word three times. If they are struggling with certain sounds, have patience and go back and review that sound. After reading the words, have them copy in their notebooks and draw a picture for each word.

The words for this lesson are:

Boy
Man
Hen
Top

Memory Verse:

Zechariah 8:4-6

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts."

Activity:
(A fun project to do with an adult's help)
Make your own top

McGuffey's second eclectic reader

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1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXXII. - Little Lucy.

Do you like to read? Can reading be as fun as play? What is so good about reading? Create a list of adjectives describing why it is good to read. The list should have atleast four adjectives.

Little Lucy.

Lucy, can you read? Yes sir, I can. Would you rather read than play? Yes sir, I would, because mama tells me that play will not be of any use to me after I am grown. If I love to read, I will be wise and good. A little boy or girl who can not read is not much better than Puss. Puss can run and play, as well as they. Puss can never learn to read. Boys who do not know how to read can not learn anything, but what is told to them. When a boy of girl knows how to read, they can sit down and learn a great deal, when there is no one to talk to them. After boys and girls have learned to read, they can learn to write. Then they can send letters to their friends, who live far away.

Vocabulary.

know, cannot, because,
friends, mama, away,
much, rather, letters,
learned, better, and never.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXXI. - Good Advice

Dictionary Lookup: forgiveness, disobeyed, avoid. Study base words and changes that prefixes and suffixes make. Put 'dis' in front of obey, honest, agree, arm, and quality, see how it turns each word in an opposite meaning. Also read Ephesians 4:26-31, Ecclesiastes 7:9, and Proverbs 15:1. Find a part of the story that is like each verse.

Good Advice

If you have done anything during the day that is wrong, ask forgiveness of God and your parents. Remember that you should learn some good things every day. If you have learned nothing all day, that day is lost. If anyone has done you, forgive him in your heart before you go to sleep. Do not go to sleep with hatred in your heart toward anyone. Never speak to anyone in an angry or harsh voice. If you have spoken unkind words to a brother or sister, go and ask forgiveness. If you have disobeyed your parents, go and confess it. Ask God to aid you always to do good and avoid evil.

Vocabulary

before, parents, during,
always, brother, forgive,
shaken, unkind, forgiveness,
hatred, confess, remember,
nothing, sister, and disobeyed.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXX. - The Snow Dog and Boy

• 

Review the preceding story: What do men teach their dogs to do? If you have forgotten, read the answer from page 89. After the you read the story review the phonograms: "ea", "igh", and "qu". Skim through the story and find examples of these sounds. What do you think would be first if the boy had been telling the story? Then what would be next, and so forth (this requires some rereading). Write your ideas in a list. When your finished with your list look at it and write a story. You can pretend your are the boy and write in first person, using "I", or you can also make up a name for the boy and write in third person.

The Snow Dog and Boy

After the old man had wiped the sweat from off his face, he went on with his story. "One sad, cold night when the snow fell fast, and the wind blew loud and shrill, and it was quite dark with not a star to be seen in the sky, these good men sent out a dog to hunt for those who might want help. " In and hour or two the dog was heard at the gate, and when they looked they saw the dog with a boy on his back. "The poor child was stiff with cold, and could just hold on to the dog's back. "He told the men that he had lain a long time in the snow, and was too ill and weak to walk, and the snow fell fast on him. After a while, he felt something pull him by the coat, and then he heard the bark of a dog close by him. " The boy then put out his hand, and he felt hair of the dog, and then the dog gave him one more pull. This gave the poor boy some hope, and he took hold of the dog, and he took hold of the dog, and drew himself out of the snow. He felt that he could not stand or walk. " He then got upon the dog's back, and put his arms around the dog's neck, and held fast. He felt sure the dog did not mean to hurt him, and thus rode on the dog's back, all the way to the good men's house. They took care of the boy till the snow was gone, then they sent him to his own home.

Vocabulary

sweat, wiped, mean,
might, something, home,
snow, heard, could,
after, length, and quite.

Barry, who lived and made history between 1800 and 1814, was one of the greatest rescue dogs the world has ever seen. Barry was a Saint Bernard dog who earned worldwide fame for the brave rescue operations he carried out during his lifetime. His painting by Salvatore Rosa still hangs in a hospice in the Alps of Switzerland.

Barry was an expert rescue dog well versed with the rescue drill and amongst his famous rescue adventures there is this famous story about a young boy who was found stranded on an icy ledge, all covered with thick snow under an ongoing, heavy snowfall. It was not possible for any man to climb that icy ledge, but Barry braving all adversity crawled inch by inch to the injured boy. As the drill has it, Barry started licking the boy's face but the snowfall was too heavy and the ledge too difficult to climb for any monk to reach the boy. So, there was no help coming. The boy, however, woke up due to Barry's warm licks and wrapped his arms around Barry's strong neck. The dog pulled him carefully and bravely from the ledge and brought him to safety.

It is just one of the many gallant rescue stories of this great rescuer Saint Bernard. He lived from 1800 to 1814 and saved more than 40 lives in his lifetime.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXIX. - The Story Teller

Dictionary look up: civil. Could this story be true? In what counties could it have happened? What kind of dog might it be? Have you taught your dog to do something? What is a story teller?

The Story Teller.

Peter Parley was a great story teller. This is known to all children who have read his books. One day as he was going by the school, the children came around him, and they all wished him to tell them a new story. "Well," says Peter, "I love to please good children, and as you all appear kind and civil, I will tell you a story which you have never heard. Before we begin, let us go and sit down in a cool shady place. And now, master John, you must be still as a little mouse. And Mary, you must be careful not to let Towser bark and make a noise." "A long way from this place, in a land where it is very cold, and where much snow fall, and where the hills are so high that their tops appear to reach the sky, there live some men whose joy it is to help folks who pass by these hills. These men keep large dogs, which they teach to go out and hunt for persons who may be lost in the snow drifts. The dogs have so fine a scent or smell, that they can find folks by means of it. Even when it is too dark to see, or when the folks for whom they are searching, lie hidden in the deep snow drifts, they find them"

Vocabulary

whose,
begin, scent,
much, high, deep,
great, drift, Parley, please,
hid, Towser, appear, story, Mary,
down, books, master, these, going, wished,
teller, persons, never, have, children, careful, read,

Make this dog a rescue dog:

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXVIII. - The Wild Beasts.

Dictionary look up: cow hide. Have you been to a zoo or a circus? How do you feel at a zoo or circus when you see caged animals and people handling them? How should people treat animals in captivity?

The Wild Beasts.

James and George went to the show. They saw a great many wild beasts in cages, and some only with a chain around one foot, fastened to a post. They saw the showman go into a cage with the lion and strike him with a cow hide. The lion roared very loud, and looked cross, but did not hurt him. James said, "I wish the man would come out. I do not like to see him in the cage. That big lion might eat him and then I should be sorry." James was a good boy, and did not like to see anyone hurt. After they had seen the show their kind papa took them to the book store, and bought each of them a fine new book. They were good boys, and loved to read.

Vocabulary.

through, store,
seen, many, book,
kind, roared, papa, bought,
looked, loved, show, cow, before,
good, hide, beasts, quite, cross, James.

More information:

Lion taming is the practice of taming lions, either for protection, whereby the practice was probably created, or, more commonly, entertainment, particularly in the circus. The term is also often used for the taming and display of other big cats such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and pumas. Lion taming is used as a stereotypical dangerous occupation due to the obvious risks of toying with powerful instinctive carnivores.

Lion taming is performed in zoos across the world, to enable less dangerous feeding and to bring more profit by holding programmes like cub petting.

Note that taming an individual lion is not the same as domestication of a species. (Wiki)

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXVII. - How to Add

Spelling: all numbers to ten; to twenty. To read for details, get some beans and work out some problems as John and his mother did. Write a paragraph explaining how to add two numbers using beans or marbles. Let someone try to follow the directions you wrote.

How to Add.

John. I wish I could do a sum, as James does. May I get a slate and try?
Mother. You can not use a slate yet, but I will teach you how to add with these beans. Now,mind what I say to you. Here is one, and here are two more. How many do one and two beans make? Put them in your left hand, and count one, two, three. You see that one and two make three. Now take three more beans, and add them to those in your left hand, and count all of them-one, two, three, four, five, six. Three and three make six. Now take four beans, and add two more to them. You see two more to them. You see there are six. Four and two are six. Now take five beans, and add one to them. You see there are six. Then five and one make six.

Vocabulary.

could, beans, four,
these, hand, teach,
your, slate, here,
does, mind, three.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXVI. - The Cruel Boy

Vocabulary lookup: conduct and tattle. Did George's friend join in his bad behavior? Did he tattle? What did George's friend do?

The Cruel Boy

George Craft is a very cruel boy. He is only six years old, and yet he is very bad. George would catch flies, and pull off their wings and legs, and the laugh to see them hop. The dog and cat are both afraid of George, and will run and hide when they see him. One day, last week, a young friend of his came to see him, and was very angry at his conduct. He asked George how he would like to have his legs and arms pulled off. George hung his head. Why, said he, flies cannot feel much. His friend told him, that he had heard men say that everything that could move, could feel, and that it was wrong of anyone to hurt or kill them. George felt very sorry, when he heard his young friend tell him how bad he had acted, and I hope he will not do so any more.

Vocabulary

George, cruel, hide,
asked, pulled, young,
everything, conduct, heard,
came, laugh, legs,
wrong, angry, wings,
friend, week, and catch.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXV. - What The Animals Say

Find the words helpful and useful in the story. What is the base word in each? What is a Suffix? What happens to the meaning of the words if you change the suffix to less? Write a short story about your favorite animals. For example: "The dog says..."

What The Animals Say

They fly says, I fly in the air, if the sun is hot. I sip out of the tea cups. If I see a boy at tea, I sit on the rim of the cup and sip his tea. If he sees me, he may try to pat me, if he can. I fly away and up in the air, so he can not get me. I am a swift fly.
The bee says, I fly too, if the sun is hot, and if it is not wet. I sip too, but I do not get in the tea cups. I am helpful. Boys do not try to pat me, for I do not get in the way, and boys can see i am helpful. If they catch me and do anything to hurt me, i will sting them.
The cat says, I do not sip, I lap. I can get a rat, and I can get you, Mr. Fly, if you do not go too far up in the air. I can run, mew, and can lie in the sun. If it is not hot, i lie on the rug, or in my bed of hay.
The rat says, I eat all I can get. The cat may try to get me, if she can, but I can run out of her way.
The hen says, i can fly, but not as far as Tom, the small bird. I lay eggs, and I am useful to men, but fox may get me, and so may the rats.
The fox says, i am sly, and try to eat all the old hens, but the dogs and men hear me, and try to get me. I am so sly, it is odd if the dogs and men can get me at all.

Vocabulary

fly, see, and,
says, eggs, but,
cup, wet, sun,
can, try, tea,
get, air, pat,
boys, sip, bee,
the, off, use,
hot, air, and was.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXIV - The new Slate

Dictionary lookup: slate (Get a dictionary and look up what slate means). Did the boy have a good imagination? What would you imagine if you had paper or a slate to draw on? Give it a try.

The new Slate

Here is a little boy who had a new slate given to him. It was bought for him by his father, that he might learn arithmetic. One day he made some pictures on his slate. Look here, Charles, I have drawn a boy on my new slate. See what a long nose he has! Ah! He has but one arm. Now I will draw a milk laid with her pail. There, I have drawn a pig and a hen, and a duck. Why the pig has but two legs, and the duck has four. Well, i can rub out two of the duck's legs and give them to the pig. There, now I will draw a man with a whip in his hand. The man has come to put the pig in the pen. Why, the man is not as tall as the pig. I must rub them all out, for they are not well done. There, I have a boy with a nest full of eggs in his hand. he is a bad boy to take a poor bird's nest. and here is Betty, the maid. She has come to take me to bed. Well if it is time, I must go. Put my slate away, that i may have it safe when i want to draw.

Vocabulary
Charles, them, hand, Betty,
done, put, drawn, nest,
long, little, may, maid,
given, what, must, father,
will, draw, picture, pail,
man, new, four, eggs,
now, all, bad, with,
want, have, and duck.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXIII. - The Kind Boy

Look at the picture before you read the lesson. What do you think happens in this story? Write some "If... then..." sentences. Example: If James keeps the bird, then it might die. What is a compound word? Is there any compound words in the story? Can you think of any compound words made from either blue or bird? have a grammar lesson about the apostrophe.

The Kind Boy

James Bland found a poor young bird on the cold ground. It was all wet, for there had been rain that day. "Ha!" said he, " I will have a fine pet, now." James took it home. He met his sister Ann at the door. "Here, Ann," said he, " is a young blue bird. I found it in the road. We will put it in a cage and keep it." Ann looked at it. "Poor thing," said she, "it is cold. Let us take it to the fire." She took it, and warmed it. As soon as it was dry and warm, it began to chirp and tried to get away. Ann told James that it would be cruel to keep the bird. "See, it wants to go back to its nest. We would not like to be taken from home and kept in a cage." James thought so too, so he took the bird to the door. "There! Go, poor bird," said he, and away it flew. Some boys would have kept it, and maybe it would have died. But James was a good boy, and would not be cruel, even to a bird. I hope that no boy who reds this book will ever rob a bird's nest. It is very cruel and wicked.

Vocabulary

cold, the, boy, wet, sister,
who, way, kept, wicked, cage, good,
warm, cruel, that, nest, looked, ever, rain,
began, back, poor, taken, ground, flew,
bluebird, dry, door, have, thing,
reads, shall, bird, very,
blue, though.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXII. - The school Girl

Study a science lesson about bees.

The school Girl

Jane rice is a good girl. She goes to school everyday, and she can read quite well. She does what she is told, and is kind to all. One day, as she went to school, she saw a poor bee in the water, on the road. She took a leaf, for fear the bee would sting her, and held it to the bee. The bee took hold of it, with its feet. Jane took it out, and put it where the sun would shine on it. The bee soon got warm and flew away. Jane was glad that she had saved its life.

Vocabulary

leaf, quite, water,
fear, shine, school, warm,
away, would, glad, saved, where.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XXI - About the Moon

Follow up with a science lesson about the phases of the moon. Write sentences in the pattern of, " If we had no moon, it would be called...". Ask the children what day God created the moon, and what else He created on that day.

About the Moon

The moon is very large. See how red it is! It looks like blood! The moon is round now, because it is full moon. It will not be so round the next night. The moon will lose a little, and the next night a little more, and so on until it it is like your bow when it is bent. It will not be seen until after you are in bed. It will grow less and less, until in two weeks there will be no moon at all. After that, there will be a new moon. You will see it just before night, and it will be very thin at first. It will grow round and larger each day, until at last, in to weeks more, it will be a full moon again like this. You will see it rise again behind the trees, in four weeks from this time, just as you see it now. If we had no moon, it would be very dark at night. We could not see to walk, or do anything. When there is snow on the ground, and the moon shines, it is almost as bright as day. When there is no moon, and the stars do not shine, it is very dark.

Vocabulary

moon, more, first, little,
red, bow, again, large, every,
like, because, very, weeks, behind, thin,
blood, new, almost, lose, before, every, snow.

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XX. - John Jones

There isn't any picture for this lesson, so after the children read the story let them draw a picture. Look up what 'hath' and 'advice' means. Ask the children what they are thankful to God for and make them write it all down. Read John 3:16 and Isaiah 41:10 to them. Also discuss the advice the man gave to John.

John Jones

John Jones was a good boy, but he could not read nor write. His mother was poor. She could not pay for him to go to school. She sent him out to help a man at the side of the road to break stones. John could not earn much, it is true, yet it was good for him to be a work. It is well for us all to have work to do. It is bad for us not to work. John was a good boy, and he did not love to play so much that he could not work. He knew t to be right to work, and when his work was done he play. The man for whom John worked was very very kind to john, and gave him a great deal of good advice. One day he said to him, " John, you must always bear in mind, that it was God who made you, and who gave you all that you have, and all that you hope for. He gave you life, and food, and a home. "All who take care of you and help you were sent to you by God. He sent his Son to show you His will, and to die for your sake. "He gave you His word to let you know what He hath done for you, and what He wants you to do. "Be sure that He sees you in the dark, as well as in the day light. He can tell all that you do, and all that you say, and all that is in your mind. "Oh, ever seek this God! Pray to Him when you rise, and when you lie down. Keep His day, hear His word, and do His will, and He will love you, and will be you God for ever.

Vocabulary

have, live, know, pray, good, him,

done advice, down, food, always, hath,

your, some, help, worked, sees, read, very,

hope, mind, kind, word, ever, great,

sent, dark, gave, that, light, you,

whom, seek, die, show, deal,

life, day, bear,

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XIX. - The Lame Dog.

Ask the children if they have seen or taken car of a lame animal. Have them write a paragraph about what they have seen or done. Make a family of words that rhyme with ground and found, and another family of words for town.

The Lame Dog.

One day a man went to take a walk in town. On his way home, he saw a little dog which had hurt his leg. The poor dog was so lame he could not lift his foot off the ground without great pain. When this kind man saw there was no one to take pity on the poor dog, he took him in his arms, and brought him home and bound up his leg. Then he fed him and made a warm place, and kept him in his house for two days. He then sent the dog out of his house, to his old home. Since it was not his own dog, he had no right to keep him, but each day the dog came back for this kind man to dress his leg. This he did till he was quite well. In a few weeks, the dog came back once more, and with him came a dog that was lame. The dog that had been lame and was now well, first gave the man a look, and then he gave the lame dog a look, as much as to say: " You made my lame leg well, and now pray do the same for this poor dog that has come with me."

Vocabulary

day poor there town could same right pain and quite kind take
great found saw off house gone been went lame has home foot
good dog feet man for arms once his then little ground kept

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XVII; About James Smith

Again, in this lesson there is no picture, so have the children draw a picture of Jame's house; as described in the story. Although Ann and James were poor, they still valued learning, love, and work. Talk about these things with your parents and discuss the values of being a child of God.

About James Smith

Ann Smith had but one child, and his name was James. Ann was poor, but she did her best to work hard, that she might pay for her house, and buy food and clothes. her house was small and stood near the road. There were two small rooms in it-one in which to sleep, and one in which to live. She made a bed in the room where she had to live. James slept in this bed. In this room she had one chair, one low stool for James to sit on, a few cups and plates, and some other things that she had bought. In the room where she slept, she had her own bed, and a box made of wood, in which she kept her clothes. James was so fond of her, that he would run to meet her, when she came home from work. When she left him to go to work, he would sit on a large stone near the house door of the house. He would look at her as long as he could see her, and then he would cry, and wish for her to come back to him. James went to school. He studied so much that in a few months he could read. Poor Ann Smith was glad of this. When she came home from work, James would read to her from a large book which a kind friend had given him. Some day I will tell you what was in that book, and i think you will love to hear it, and to read it, as James Smith did.

Vocabulary

food, room, child, Smith,
gone, come, night, things,
went, meet, slept, would,
hate, back, large, friend,
Ann, much, board, school,
poor, work, pains, clothes,
care, made, ready, bought,
had, stool, small, weight,
own, home, stood, James,
door, fond, crate, might,
then, wood, warm, house,
him, look, large, months,
hail, kind, plates, ground

Lessons in this series:

• First Reader:Lesson XVII
• First reader: Lesson XVI
• First Reader: Lesson XV
• First Reader: Lesson XIV
• First Reader: Lesson XIII
• First Reader: Lesson XII
• First Reader: Lesson XI
• First Reader: Lesson X
• Penmanship practice paper
• McGuffey's 1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson I
• First Reader: Lesson II
• First Reader: Lesson III
• First Reader: Lesson IV
• First Reader: Lesson V
• First Reader: Lesson VI
• First Reader: Lesson VII
• First Reader: Lesson VIII
• First Reader: Lesson IX

1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson XVIII; The Thick Shade.

For this lesson read the Twenty-third Psalm and compare it with this lesson. In the vocabulary the words doth (old form of does) and fool should be explained and discussed.

The Thick Shade

Come, let us go into thick shade. It is noonday, and the summer sun beats hot upon our heads. The shade is pleasant cool. The branches meet above our heads and shut out the sun like a green curtain. The grass is soft to our feet, and the clear brook washes the roots of the trees. The cattle can lie down to sleep in the cool shade, but we can do better. We can raise our voices to heaven. We can praise the great God who made us. He made the warm sun and the cool shade, the trees that grow upwards, and the brooks that run along. The plants and trees are made to give fruit to man. All that live get life from God. He made the poor man, as well as the rich man. He made the dark man, as well as the fair man. He made the fool, as well as he made the wise man. All that move on the land are His, and so all that swim in the sea. The ox and the worm are both the work of His hand. In Him, they live and move. He it is that doth give food to all of them, and when He says the word, they all must die.

Vocabulary

come, clear, sleep,
shade, down, heaven,
heads, voices, thick,
soft, pleasant, heat,
cattle, into, branches,
raise, day, upwards,
noon, cool, better,
trees, brook, summer

Lessons in this series:

• First Reader:Lesson XVII
• First reader: Lesson XVI
• First Reader: Lesson XV
• First Reader: Lesson XIV
• First Reader: Lesson XIII
• First Reader: Lesson XII
• First Reader: Lesson XI
• First Reader: Lesson X
• Penmanship practice paper
• McGuffey's 1836 First Eclectic Reader: Lesson I
• First Reader: Lesson II
• First Reader: Lesson III
• First Reader: Lesson IV
• First Reader: Lesson V
• First Reader: Lesson VI
• First Reader: Lesson VII
• First Reader: Lesson VIII
• First Reader: Lesson IX