ost.

While greater prominence is given to the thot phase in reading, the
technical drill and active effort in mastering the mechanical phase is
of equal importance as necessary preparation for good reading.

FIRST YEAR

1. _Ear Training:_

From the first day a definite place on the program should be given to
phonics. This period, at first very short, will gradually increase to
ten, fifteen or twenty minutes.

To enable pupils to recognize words when separated into their elementary
sounds, exercises in "listening and doing," will constitute the first
step in phonics teaching. Words are sounded slowly and distinctly by the
teacher and pronounced or acted out by the pupils.

ACTION GAME

(First Day.)

c-l-a-p s-w-ee-p f-l-y
b-ow d-u-s-t r-u-n
j-u-m-p s-i-t s-l-ee-p
p-u-sh d-r-i-nk w-a-k-e
m-a-r-ch s-t-a-n-d s-t-r-e-t-ch

If at first children are not able to distinguish the words when
separated thus; s-t-a-n-d, d-r-i-n-k, blend the sound less slowly thus:
st-and, dr-ink, gradually increasing the difficulty to st-an-d, d-r-ink,
and finally to the complete analysis.

These ear training exercises should continue until a "phonetic sense" is
established. Not all children can readily blend sounds and "hear the
word." Patient drill for weeks, even months, may be necessary before a
sense of phonetic values is attained. Haphazard and spasmodic work is
fatal to progress; but a few minutes of brisk, lively drill, given
regularly each day will accomplish wonders.

The exercises should be varied from day to day to insure active interest
and effort.

_Second Day:_

Touch your n-o-se; your ch-ee-k; your ch-i-n; l-i-p-s; k-n-ee; f-oo-t;
b-oo-k; p-e-n-c-i-l; d-e-s-k; sh-o-e; d-r-e-ss, etc.

_Third Day:_

Place a number of toys in a basket. Pupils find as the teacher sounds
the name of each, saying: "Find the t-o-p"; "the s-p-oo-l;" "the
d-o-ll"; "the h-o-r-n"; etc.

_Fourth Day:_

Sound the names of pupils in class; or names of animals; colors, fruits,
places, etc.

_Fifth Day:_

R-u-n to m-e.
C-l-a-p your h-a-n-d-s.
W-a-v-e the f-l-a-g.
Cl-o-se the d-oo-r.
F-o-l-d your a-r-m-s.
B-r-i-n-g m-e a r-e-d b-a-ll.
B-ou-n-ce the b-a-ll.
Th-r-ow the b-a-ll to Fr-e-d.
R-i-n-g the b-e-ll.
H-o-p to m-e.
S-i-t in m-y ch-air.
R-u-n to the ch-ar-t.
S-i-n-g a s-o-n-g.