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NEW YORK.:. CINCINNATI: CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

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a 5-13-36

PREFACE

THE present revision of McGuffey's Readers has been made with due recognition of the advancement that has taken place in methods of instruction since the appearance of the former edition somewhat more than twenty years ago. While embodying those features which represent the latest and best ideas relative to the theory and art of teaching reading, this new edition retains those distinguishing characteristics which have given to the McGuffey series a more widespread and enduring popularity than has ever been attained by any other school text-books. More than half of the selections used are new to the series, and all have been carefully revised and adapted in conformity with the general plan of this revision. The aim has been, while avoiding experiments and whatever may prove to be of shortlived interest, to hold fast to all those features that are worthiest and most valuable, whether new or old.

Lessons inculcating worthy ideas in regard to right thinking and right living form a considerable portion of the contents of this book. Stories relating to common objects and phenomena of nature are so presented as to encourage habits of observation and inquiry. Selections from the most popular writers for young people are given, and the pupils are introduced to a few of the best and most enduring productions in modern literature.

The transition from the preceding book is without any break or unexpected difficulty; and care has been taken throughout the volume to make the pupil's progress evenly gradual. Only a few new words are used in each selection, and all such as would present the slightest difficulty to the learner are given in an appropriate word list at the head of the lesson. These the pupils should learn to recognize by sight, as well as to spell and pronounce by the aid of the diacritical marks that accompany them.

INTRODUCTION

TO THE TEACHER: It is not intended that the pupils shall begin the book by a formal study of this introductory chapter. It contains, however, certain facts relative to the mechanics of reading, with which every child should become familiar while studying the Second Reader. It is the teacher's duty to present these facts gradually and in an interesting manner, illustrating them by practical reference to their application in the reading lessons. Here are materials and suggestions for many interesting and valuable oral lessons.

The Sounds of the Letters.-There are twentysix letters in the alphabet. Six of these letters are called vowels; all the rest are called consonants.

The six vowels are a, e, i, o, u, y.

The twenty consonants are b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, 7, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, Z. The letter y is a consonant when it is followed in the same syllable by a, e, i, o, or u.

Each letter has at least one sound; some of the letters have several different sounds. In the dictionary and also in the word lists in this book certain marks are used to show the different sounds of the vowels. These marks help us to know just how the word in which they are used is pronounced. The long sounds of the vowels are shown as follows:

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The short sounds of the vowels are marked thus:

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Other sounds are shown by still other marks, as :

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Some of the consonants also have two or more sounds, and are marked as follows:

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