GOLDEN TREASURY READERS A PRIMER BY CHARLES M. STEBBINS BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL, BROOKLYN, N.Y. AND MARY H. COOLIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BROOKLYN ILLUSTRATIONS BY HERBERT E. MARTINI NEW YORK.:. CINCINNATI .:. CHICAGO PREFACE Subject-matter.It is obvious that a primer, to be of practical value, must contain all the elements essential to the success of a child in his first efforts to develop the ability to read. These essentials are: (1) a subject-matter that possesses a natural interest, and that is well within the comprehension of the child; (2) a method, or system, that presents the subject-matter in a manner striking enough to impress the child; (3) a vocabulary sufficiently limited to admit of mastery; and (4) an attractiveness in general appearance that will render the pupil's work pleasurable. The Method. —The system of reading upon which this book is based aims to bring the varied interests of the child's school life into a unity. The story with a vital appeal forms the basis of that unity. He hears the story from his teacher, he talks about it with teacher and companions, he learns to read it in a manner that appeals to his interest, and eventually he learns to write it. This book will lend itself to any good method; but the system outlined in the Manual for Teachers, if followed, will produce superior results. The Vocabulary. - The vocabulary used is considerably smaller than that of most books of the kind. It con sists of only two hundred words, which are so evenly distributed that ordinarily but two new words appear on a single page. These are used so often in the basal story and in the short stories connected with the basal story that the mastery of them is made easy. At the same time, the story element, everywhere present, renders the work natural and pleasant. The words all pertain to life. Experience shows that such words are much more readily acquired by beginners.. The Illustrations. Although the pictures are made as attractive as possible, their chief value does not lie in their attractiveness. They supply valuable information for the child, whose experience is necessarily limited; and furnish a basis for conversation between teacher and pupil. In the following pages parenthesis marks inclosing a word indicate that the word has not been used previously in the basal story. Words that are spaced in lists of rhymes are also new. These lists are for practice in the sounding of words. learned. They are not intended to be The verse selections are intended to be used for memory work. |