Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1875 — Writing Reading Lessons. [ARTICLE]

Writing Reading Lessons.

The following article upon, the Advantage Gained by Writing Reading Lessons, from the pen of a Rensselaer young lady, was published in a recent number of the National Teacher: 1. It teaches correct spelling. Pupils are brought into such close connection with a word, by forming each letter in its order in it, and repeating them mentally while doing so; that they do not only have the word written upon the paper, but they have it printed indelibly upon the tablets of their memory. 2. It teaches penmanship. The old adage, “Practice makes perfect,” will hold good in this case; and if the teacher, in grading the papers, will take into consideration the penmanship, there will be an interest aroused in the pupils to write well. At the close of a term, the teacher, parents, and pupils will be surprised at the decided improvement made in this particular. 3. It teaches punctuation; In copying paragraphs from the readerj pupils will not fail to notice how the author has punctuated it according to the sense; and in expressing their own thoughts in writing, they will be more familiar with the use of the punctuation marks, and consequently will punctuate better, than had they Jieen taught by the almost barbarous method of keeping the voice up at a comma, and stopping long enough to count one, etc. * 4. It teaches the correct use of capitals. By writing their lessons, they observe where capitals are used in the book. They soon perceive that the author begins every proper

name with a capital, also each paragraph, and with a little aid they will be able to derive the general rules for capitalization. 5. It teaches a correct use of words. This method familiarizes them with the use and of words, and, haying this familiarity, they wilr be' able to express their ideas in good language. 6. It teaches paragraphing. They soon learn that the author begins a paragraph at the introduction of each new thought; and in their own compositions will do the same. 7. It teaches the correct use and spelling of words whose pronunciations are similar, but the spelling and signification of which are very different. For instance, the adverb Zoo, the preposition to, and the adjective two, which are so often misused by mistaking the preposition for the adverb, or the adverb for the 8. It establishes a habit of industry. In assigning a lesson of this kind, I the pupils have been given work ; which they can do, and will love to do, and their interest will be so aroused 1 by the light which has been thrown upon the meaning and sentiment of the paragraph which they have copied, that they w ill be led to investigate farther and find out more about the piece, and ; therefore learn the habit of pleasing industry. 9. It teaches familiarity with style. By having a production of an author brought Vividly before the i mind, as writing will undoubtedly | do, they are enabled- to see the I beauties and excellencies of the j sentiment and expression of the au-! thor, or, on the other band, the faults and imperfections. 10. It leaches business habits. As these papers are to be preserved, they may be taught the correct folding of them, and the conectplacs to inscribe their names, thus teaching them common, practical business habits. 11. It secures good management of the school. For by giving some- ; thing that each pupil can do, they j are kept busy,—and that teacher is i a good manager who keeps his pupils occupied. These papers may be filed away, j and kept by the teacher until the ■ close ot the term; and when the pa- j rents visit the school, they may be | brought forth to show the fruits of the children's labor, to the great satisfaction of both children and

parents.

MATIE HOWARD.

National Normal School, Lebanon, 0.