This is an updated version of Meiklejohn’s A Short Grammar of the English Tongue, the first year of lessons. Miss Mason assigned this book after her own First Grammar Lessons, and Jessica Becker has lightly edited the original book, included an answer key and suggested pacing. This edited version tries to stay as true to the original text as possible. The only edits made were to update syntax, word choice, and phrasing to align with modern usage and sensibilities. A formatted Student Book with just the exercises is also included as a separate file, though the exercises could also be done orally.
For most students, each part of this resource is about one year’s worth of lessons. Some may move faster while others need more time. It is meant to be used during the short lessons and continued from week to week moving at the student’s pace. Year 2 includes additional syntax and etymology lessons and may be spread out over 2 years rather than 1.
Sample Lesson:
*Note: If you are interested in using these materials with a co-op or group, please email us at contact@adelectableeducation.com for group rates.
Teaching a child to read is such a foundational part of education, and can be daunting! Thankfully, Miss Mason’s simple, natural method helps teacher and student alike gain confidence in their skills.
We’ve compiled all our Reading resources here in one bundled price. When you purchase this product you will receive:
Reading Lessons
Two different sets of Reading Lessons are available. Both include instructions for teaching reading using Charlotte Mason’s methods (as laid out in Home Education), word lists grouped into units with their word families and sample sentences, and files for word cards that can be cut apart.
Reading Lessons with Short Poems
This Teacher Help contains ten short poems that work wonderfully with Charlotte Mason’s method for reading lessons. However, as Miss Mason herself noted, the process for preparing reading lessons can take some time. This Teacher Help was developed to save busy moms much of that preparation. These Reading Lessons provide Word Cards for you to use with each of the ten poems included in this download, a “Procedure List” that provides some direction during sight reading lessons and spelling lessons with options to keep either from becoming stale, and for each poem, “blocks” of words are provided along with related word family lists for spelling lessons. There are also sample dictation sentences for both reading and spelling lessons (which are helpful for Transcription/Copywork Lessons too). These short poems also make excellent Recitation pieces and can be used by themselves for Transcription lessons!
Sample Lesson:
Reading Lessons for the Treadwell Primer
The Treadwell Primer contains ten stories that work wonderfully with Charlotte Mason’s method for reading lessons. However, as Miss Mason herself noted, the process for preparing reading lessons can take some time. This Teacher Help was developed to save busy moms much of that preparation. These Reading Lessons provide Word Cards for you to use with each story, a “Procedure List” that provides some direction during sight reading lessons and spelling lessons with options to keep either from becoming stale, and for each story, “blocks” of words are provided along with related word family lists for spelling lessons. There are also sample dictation sentences for both reading and spelling lessons.
*Note: A copy of the Treadwell Primer will also be needed to utilize these lessons
Sample Lesson:
*Note: If you are interested in using these materials with a co-op or group, please email us at contact@adelectableeducation.com for group rates.
Pre-Reading: The Alphabet & Early Literacy
Miss Mason gave many hints for Early Literacy activities in her volumes and Parents Review articles. This Teacher Help has compiled these tips to provide a solid foundation for reading success. These tips will provide support for the inexperienced parent, and fresh ideas for veteran homeschool parents. This resource contains a helpful list of early literacy and language activities and resources, a sample lesson procedure for teaching letter sounds, and individual object suggestions for every letter of the alphabet. There are also resource/material suggestions throughout the help and two printable resources as well.
Sample:
Pre-Reading: Word Making
This Teacher Help was developed to save busy moms much of the preparation time needed to help a younger child begin to put letter sounds together. These Pre-Reading Lessons provide general instructions for this step in the reading journey, word lists for both short-vowel and long-vowel words, and a “Procedure List” that provides some direction as you work with your child to help them make real words with their letter sounds. This Teacher Help can be used once a child knows all his letter sounds (names of letters is not necessary in order to begin).
Sample:
*Note: If you are interested in using these materials with a co-op or group, please email us at contact@adelectableeducation.com for group rates.
Beginning the study of grammar can be a challenge for the CM teacher. Many programs are monotonous rote exercises that make little connection between the formal study and the child’s own understanding of written language from his own reading. Most do not approach the study as she wished, understanding the sentence first before individual parts of speech. Miss Mason’s own lessons were never completed by her. Those that exist have no tips for the teacher or answer keys to verify correct answers. In addition, she expected the teacher to come up with her own extra practice and to present the lessons in an engaging way.
Liz Cottrill has updated the sentences in the exercises in Miss Mason’s own First Grammar Lessons to make them a little more palatable for the modern student. The lessons offered here are based on hers, include much of her own wording, and reflect the kinds of exercises she thought fit for the lesson. They have been edited and “informalized” to hopefully disperse some anxiety for the teacher and student, and Liz has also included extra practice for students who need it, given simple outlines for lessons, and provided the answer key for the regular lessons.
For most students, each Part of this resource is about one term’s lessons. Some may move faster while others need more time. It is meant to be used during the short lessons and continued from week to week moving at the student’s pace.
Samples (Lesson Objectives, Lesson, and Answer Key):
*Note: If you are interested in using these materials with a co-op or group, please email us at contact@adelectableeducation.com for group rates.
