The Educator (Volume 45) - IAMPETH

Our Lesson in Manuscript Writing
By Mary Elenor Smith
Our sentence today is "I have a bird." (See page 17 of Print to Script Practice Book No. 1.)
How many in the class have a
canary at home? Do you know of
some friend who has a bird ? Mary,
what is the color of your bird ?
Johnny, what does your grandmother's
bird eat? Will someone
tell me what birds can do? Yes, they
can fly, sing, hop and eat.
Billy says that we should be kind
to birds.
Stepping to the board I print the
entire sentence, "I have a bird." on
the board so that each pupil can see
and visualize the whole sentence. I
am careful to see that Helen who
cannot see so well is placed near the
board.
Look at the sentence carefully for
a few minutes. Have we any new
words in the sentence ? James, you
may come to the board and point out
the new word. Samuel, how do you
pronounce the word "bird"? Altogether,
let us spell b-i-r-d as I point
to each letter. Altogether, let us
read the entire sentence, I-have-abird.
Now boys, you may read it.
Now the girls may read it.
Notice children as I print the word
"bird" on the board that the b is
made by first making a simple
straight line and then a circle is
added. Notice that I have placed the
straight line and the circle both on
the base line. The straight stroke
stands up tall while the circle is like
a little squatty man, only half as tall
as the straight line.
The i is a short straight line with
a dot. The dot is like a bird flying
in the air directly over a house. The
r is made by first making a straight
line then adding the top curve of a
circle.
13
The circle part of the d is made
first and the straight line is made
last. Notice that the b and d are the
same except that the b has the circle
in front and the 4 has~^;he- trircle on
its back.
Let us all go to our places at
the board and print the word "bird"
under the copies which I have made
above your spaces. Look at the copies
and then look at your own word
and see if you can find some one
little thing which you can make better.
Did you get the b and d the
same in height?
Now let us go to our desks and try
the word on our practice paper. Hold
your ivords up to the copy in your
book and see if there is any place
where you can make your work look
more like the copy.
Now let us try the entire sentence.
Mr. Chamberlain's latest signature. Mr. Chamberlain is with the Eaton-Burnett Business College,
Baltimore, Maryland.