BY J. W. SEARSON PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE MANHATTAN AND GEORGE E. MARTIN SUPERINTENDENT OF CITY SCHOOLS, THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING CO Chicago and Lincoln THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912 HARVARD COPYRIGHT, 1911 THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING COMPANY All Rights Reserved The Lakeside Press R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO PREFACE READING with appreciation is a fine art. This volume contains some of the gems of literature which the race has learned to love. Some of the best "old-fashioned" selections, and some of the most charming new short classics, are offered as a basis for study and appreciation. The average pupil will study his reading lesson with zest if he is given some definite work to do. In these studies, the brief introduction to each selection is intended to whet the pupil's "appetite," thus awakening a proper incentive to study the selection. The "Exercises" following each study are arranged to make his study definite and to the point. Helpful "Notes" are added wherever necessary, and "Additional Readings" are given to afford the means of broadening and deepening the impressions gained in directed study. Each study presents a definite problem to the pupil, with sufficient helps and suggestions to enable him to work out a solution. The pupil must be taught how to use the dictionary intelligently. Word-lists are given on each study. Other words and phrases should be added as the needs of the class demand. All words not clear to pupils should be studied by means of the dictionary. The intelligent use of the dictionary enables the child to become independent in enlarging his own vocabulary. The best teachers of reading agree that it is better to teach pupils of this grade to use the dictionary intelligently than to permit them to rely on pronouncing vocabularies in their readers. All methods, devices, and helpful exercises usually employed in teaching reading are brought to bear the best fruit when reinforced by well-directed study. The authors desire to acknowledge their indebtedness to the teachers who have already tried and proven these studies. Especial thanks are due to President J. W. Crabtree of the Wisconsin State Normal School at River Falls, to Superintendent A. H. Waterhouse of the Public Schools of Fremont, Nebraska, and to Superintendent Alice Florer of York County, Nebraska, for practical suggestions and helpful criticisms, and to former State Superintendent W. K. Fowler of Nebraska for expert care, criticisms, and corrections in the preparation of this volume. J. W. SEARSON. G. E. MARTIN. |