IN this and the succeeding Standards, the Editor has had before his mind, not only a progressive advance in the task of reading, and the acquisition of new words, but also the gradual development of the mind of the child, and of its moral faculties. The lessons have been carefully selected with regard to their subject-matter, as well as the consideration of their progressive difficulty as Reading Lessons. Hence, Natural History, natural productions, and passages from English History, are mingled with others of an amusing character, and of a moral tendency. Lessons I., III., V., VII., and XLIII., are exercises on certain diphthongs, and might be used as Dictation Exercises after those which are to be found at the end of the book. The Historical Tables are intended to present, at a glance, the leading points of importance in each reign, and, being used as landmarks, should be supplemented by the oral instruction of the teacher. Several helps to the memory have been introduced by variations in type, e.g., the Constitutional History is in old English; the termination of the name Rich-ard will serve to remind the pupil of the third Crusade; the four letters in J-o-h-n, and five in H-e-n-r-y, of the fourth and fifth; so, too, the grouping of events, &c., into triplets, in Edward the Third's reign, are all intended to be memoria technicæ. The Editor begs to acknowledge the kindness of the Rev. P. B. Power, "Lewis Carroll," Lord Zouche, Mr. Carpenter, Messrs. Macmillan & Co., Masters & Son, Chapman & Hall, Jarrold & Sons, Moxon & Co., and many others, who have so kindly allowed him to make extracts from their respective publications. JAMES RIDGWAY TRAINING COLLEGE, REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW CODE FOR STANDARD III. READING. "A short paragraph from a more advanced reading book." WRITING. "A sentence slowly dictated once by a few words at a time, from the same book." ARITHMETIC. "Long division and compound rules (money)." |