THOMAS LAURIE, EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHER, SPELLING AND DICTATION CLASS-BOOK: With Etymological Exercises. By an INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS. Fcap. 8vo, Cloth Boards, price 1s. 6d. The Compiler has aimed above all at judicious omission in constructing this Classbook. He has had in view the collecting together, in a classified form, of all the more difficult words in common use. Words difficult but rarely met with by the ordinary reader are better learned as they occur in the course of reading, and after the pupil has obtained an accurate knowledge of the great mass of words that occur in daily conversation, in newspapers, and in current literature. It is presumed that the pupil into whose hands this book is put has already been accustomed to spell from his daily lessons for some years, and also to write simple sentences from dictation. He will find here a revisal of the knowledge acquired, and a test of it. The pupil is understood to learn the columns of words by heart as a home-task, and to copy on his slate, cither at home or during school hours, the dictation exercises; writing them afterwards from the dictation of the master. Writing to dictation will never be thoroughly acquired unless the pupils prepare dictation lessons at home, just as they prepare their grammar or geography. The spelling rules have been reduced to three. The dictation exercises in this book have been so constructed as to convey knowledge as well as to teach spelling. Masters will find that a dictation book of this kind will afford much better material for the daily writing lessons than the wearisome and unmeaning repet tion of words commonly found in copy-books. As soon as a scholar can write smal-text fairly, his copy should, frequently at least, if not always, be a portion of his dictation book. In this way he will not only gain a more sure and rapid mastery over the art of writing, but he will learn other things at the same time." It is scarcely necessary to apologise for the etymological portion of the volume, as a knowledge of prefixes and affixes has a close connexion with accurate and intelligent spelling. The Compiler has, except in this one respect, carefully avoided the almost universal error of confounding a spelling-book proper with either a reading-book, on the one hand, or a bad dictionary of signification, on the other. The Dictation Exercises are so selected and constructed as to afford the means of giving lessons in the writing of précis or abstracts. CONTENTS. Section I.-Difficult Monosyllables, and Section II-Spelling Rules, and Exer- Section III.-Difficult Dissyllables, and Section IV-Words sounded alike, but Miscellaneous Dictation Exercises. Forms of Letters. Section V.-Words not sounded alike, Section VII-Etymology-Prefixes- SECOND PART. Words mis-spelt by Candidates for the Latin and French Phrases in common use. From W. F. COLLIER, Esq., LL.D., Edinburgh Academy. "It is an admirable book. I know of none in which the difficulties of English spelling are presented to the learner with so much point and plainness, and in such a workable shape for class instruction." From R. DUNNING, Esq., Professor of the Art of Teaching, Home and "I have no hesitation in saying that it is the most complete book of the kind we possess. I shall have great pleasure in submitting it to the students." 38 COCKBURN STREET, EDINBURGH. CONSTABLE'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES. THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF COMMON SCHOOL-EDUCATION. BY JAMES CURRIE, A.M., Principal of the Church of Scotland Training College, Edinburgh; Author of "Early and Infant School-Education." Price 6s. Pp. 504. This work consists of Three Parts. Part I. is a Manual of Principles, and illus. trates the objects and laws of Education, in their connexion with the doctrines of Mental Science. Part II. is a Manual of School Management, and treats of Organization, Discipline, and the Art of Teaching. Part III. is a Manual of Method, and shows how the Art of Teaching is applied to all the branches which form part of Common School-Education. This work, and the Author's treatise on Infant Education, to which it is a sequel, exhibit in systematic order and in definite form all the processes of modern teaching, and make up between them a complete and trustworthy manual of professional study. They have received the approval of many of the most eminent educational authorities in this country, including Inspectors of Schools and Heads of Training Colleges; of the Inspector-General of Elementary Education in France; and of the Jury of the Education Department of the International Exhibition of 1862, who awarded them a medal. "The elaborate volumes of Mr. Currie, on Early and Infant School-Education, and on 'Common School-Education,' fully deserve the place which they occupy in the list of awards."-Jurors' Report on Educational Works and Appliances, International Exhibition, 1862. "The work is complete and exhaustive. No aspect of the subject is overlooked every difficulty that the teacher may encounter is anticipated. From the first page to the last, the book is a monument of method,-of careful, intelligent, conscientious work."-Museum. "A complete encyclopedia of educational information, inspired by the most intimate knowledge of every practical detail connected with the subject; this volume should be in the hands of every one connected with education, whether engaged in active tuition, or merely called upon to supervise the exertions of those who are so." -Westminster Review. "We recommend Mr. Currie's work to all who read on the subject. We are much in agreement with by far the greater part of what we have closely examined; and in every case in which we differ, we recommend Mr. Currie to those who take our side as an opponent worth consulting."-Athenæum. "The first part of the volume is more psychological than practical. But in the second and third, which are devoted to school management and method, all those topics to which the attention of a young teacher is usually directed are fully, and for the most part, sensibly discussed."-Saturday Review. THOMAS LAURIF, 38, COCKBURN STREET, EDINBURGH. CONSTABLE'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES. INFANT SCHOOL HYMNS AND SONGS. With appro priate Melodies. By JAMES CURRIE, A. M., Principal of the Church of Scotland Training College, Edinburgh; Author of "Early and Infant SchoolEducation," etc., etc. "Singing is a physical exercise of wonderful power in relieving the more serious work of the school. All must observe its calming influence after exertion, and its cheering preparative influence on exertion yet to be undergone. It is like the ventilation of the mind; giving an outlet for the oppressed and pent-up feelings of the child, the hearty utterance of which is at all times refreshing. The younger children are, the more and the more frequent the necessity for the relaxation thus afforded: there can be no successful management of the infant school without it. We shall afterwards have to notice its value as a branch of instruction; what we insist on at present is its value as an instrument in a skilful hand for keeping alive the tone and activity of the school."-Principles and Practice of Early and Infant School-Education, by Rev. JAMES CURRIE. "I am anxious to press on the attention of schoolmasters and managers the importance of a little attention to singing. It is not necessary to teach it in any elaborate way or to spend much time over it. An hour or two half hours a week of systematic training is enough to enable school children to sing very fairly, and the introduction of an occasional hymn or song during work freshens the en suffer in the least fr on schoolmasters th the civilizing and e Inspector of Schools. THOMAS L ver found the other work of the school As it does not, it is reasonable to urge the masses of the people in early life WILLIAM JACK, Esq., M.A., H.M. TREET, EDINBURGH. |