A Thought on Teaching Reading by Clara L. Seaman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

A Thought on Teaching Reading

By Clara L. Seaman

As I enjoy teaching reading to the little ones, I will say a word about my method. I usually begin the teaching of reading by talking to the children about creation. After talking about the great, dark earth, and how the Spirit of God brooded upon the face of the waters, I ask the children this question: “What did God make?” They nearly always reply promptly that he made the light. After impressing upon their minds what

a desolate, dreary condition the earth was in before light was made, and talking with them upon the pleasure which light gives, I can usually deeply interest them in the story. I then ask them if they would like to have the chalk tell them the story. All are anxious for this, and of course each one knows what I am to write, and so when the sentence, “God made the light,” appears on the board, each is anxious to read it. I have them read the sentence until it is easily distinguished from any others which may be written. I introduce new stories by changing a word or two, as, “God made the light,” “God made flowers,” “God made the sun,” etc. I find the children always anxious to use the chalk in telling these stories upon the board. We always have a list of the new words, and review them continually.

After the children have learned well the sentences and words, I begin to teach them the sounds of the letters, and have them tell me the appropriate letter. After a few weeks I find that I can teach them to distinguish the long and short sounds of the vowels, and by the time they are ready for spelling, it is easy to learn the words. When the pupils have a vocabulary of fifty to seventy-five words, I then take up a suitable book. CLARA L. SEAMAN.