Entered, according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1833, By S. T. WORCESTER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PREFACE. THIS little work is designed as a suitable introduction to the Sequel to the Spelling-Book.' It is intended to be used in teaching children the rudiments of Reading and Spelling by a series of lessons addressed to the understanding as well as to the eye and memory. No words have been admitted into the Reading lessons of which the learner may not readily form a clear idea, and no ideas which he will not easily comprehend. In the Spelling lessons, such words as are most common and familiar are classed by themselves, without being defined. It is however recommended that the learner, as he spells them, should be required to give their meaning in his own language. The words defined will be found somewhat less familiar than those not defined, although such as are in common and daily use. The definitions are concise, but much pains have been taken to render them accurate and at the same time simple and intelligible to children. The practice of teaching Orthography from most of the Spelling-Books now in use, is attended with serious and radical evils. From the confused jumble of words of all kinds, known, unknown, obsolete, and technical, the learner seldom gains any definite idea of the meaning of any. Spelling-Books are commonly the first books put into the hands of learners in our public schools. But instead of being, as they should be, easy and interesting, of all others they are the most difficult and uninviting. It is true that children may see and remember the order of the letters in the words they are tasked to spell. But this they might do with equal facility and profit, in learning the Orthography of any foreign tongue, with which they are wholly unacquainted. If instead of the course usually pursued, they can be taught to associate some distinct idea with the order of the letters in each word, their progress will be much more sure and rapid, and their lessons incomparably more interesting. Whether this little book shall prove a successful attempt to remove the evil complained of, experience must decide. It is commended to the notice of teachers and others interested in the welfare of our common and primary schools, with the confidence that it will be approved or neglected in proportion due to its merits. CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 1833. |