. First, the pupils know that
the words in the book are those most commonly needed in writing.
Second, the pupils quickly see the advantage of centering their
efforts on words which they have actually missed. Third, by means of
standard scores they are enabled to compare their spelling ability
with that of children in other parts of the country. Fourth, they can
see what they are accomplishing. Fifth, these provisions make possible
the joy which comes from doing vigorously and thoroughly a clean-cut
task that needs to be done. These are the interests which appeal to
sensible men and women in life outside the school, and they have
proved sufficient for children. Many attempts have been made to
substitute devices for these wholesome and fundamental interests. Such
attempts not only fail in their purpose, but actually distract the
child's mind from the work he has to do. Sugar-coating inevitably
destroys the child's appetite for healthy vigorous work.

DIRECTIONS TO PUPILS

=Why These Words Should be Studied.=--One of the ways by which people
judge the writer of a letter is by the presence or absence of spelling
errors. Often a young man or young woman has failed to obtain a
desirable position because of spelling errors in a letter of
application. Even in the ordinary friendly letter, spelling errors
make a bad impression. The words which you are to learn from this
spelling book are the words which people most frequently use in
writing letters. Thousands of letters were read, and each word found
was recorded. This book, therefore, contains the words most commonly
used in writing, and does not contain any word which has not been
found in letters.

=How to Learn the Words.=--The first step in the study of each lesson
will be an exercise in pronunciation. Your teacher will pronounce each
word for you. Look at your book closely, noticing each syllable as she
pronounces it. When the teacher asks you to pronounce the word after
her, look at each syllable closely as _you_ pronounce it.

The second step in learning the lesson is the test. Write each word as
plainly as you can and without hesitation. The purpose of this test
is to see whether or not there are any words in the lesson which you
cannot spell. The words which you cannot spell will be your work in
spelling for the week.

If your teacher asks you to exchange papers for the purpose of
correcting them, be sure to do your work very carefully. If you fail to
m