Education of Children in Primary Grades

“Three objectives have guided us in the preparation of this volume: to formulate an organized set of principles dealing with the first step in formal education; to cover systematically and completely the work of these primary grades; and to make our discussions so detailed and specific that the teacher may learn how to proceed and may have at hand definite criteria by which to judge the out-comes of her work”. — Extract from the Author’s Preface

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. The Social Heritage and Every Child
The Meaning of Education. The Significance of Speech. The Significance of Reading and Writing. The Significance of Quantitative Thinking. The Arts of Expression. Music and Drawing as Tools. The Art of Speaking. The Non-Skill Phase of Early Education. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER II. Every Child and His School
Home or School? The Place of the Nurses School. The Place of the Kindergarten. The Beginning of the Primary Unit. The End of the Period of Primary Instruction. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER III. Before Formal Schooling: A Period of Transition
Children Are Variable. Pre-Elementary Education. Contrast. The Need for Transition Classes. Procedures in Transition Classes, Determining Readiness for Primary Work. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER IV. Curriculum and Method
General Principles. The Meaning and the Function of the Activity, Organizing Instruction. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER V. Reading: The Pre-Primer Period
Basic Principles. Before Books. Translating Theory into Practice.

CHAPTER VI. Reading: The Beginning of Books
Discovering Reading. Variability of Response. Children Who Are Not Ready for Reading. The Child and
His Primer. Testing and Remedial Procedure.

CHAPTER VII. Reading: The Period of Rapid Progress
Preparation for Independent Reading. Phonics as an Aid to Recognition. Reading at Sight. The Non-
Reader. Desirable Outcomes. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER VIII. Handwriting and Spelling: General Principles
Basic Principles Governing Penmanship Instruction. Basic Principles Governing Spelling Instruction. Tests
and Desirable Outcomes.

CHAPTER IX. Handwriting and Spelling: The First School Year
The Beginning of Writing. From Blackboard to Desk.

CHAPTER X. Handwriting and Spelling: Period op Automatization
Second School Year: Spelling. Second School Year: Penmanship. Third School Year: Spelling. Third
School Year: Penmanship. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XI. Number: Laying the Basis for Computation
Concepts of Quantity. Reading and Writing Numbers. Extension of the Number System. Concepts of Measurement. Organizing the Work in Computation. Addition-Subtraction Combinations. Desirable Outcomes

CHAPTER XII. Number: Introducing the Four Operations with Whole Numbers
Addition and Subtraction. Multiplication and Division. Some General Principles of Procedure. Desirable Outcomes. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XIII. Speech — Informal Communication
The Influence of Environment. The Task of the Teacher. Voice. Articulation. Phonetics as an Aid.
Pronunciation. Aids toward Good Speech. Correct Usage. Good Conversation. Desirable Outcomes. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XIV. Speech —Formal Expression
The Story. Dramatization. Written Composition. Literature. Desirable Outcomes. References for Further
Study.

CHAPTER XV. Music
The Four Elements of Music. The Aims of Music in the Primary Grades. Procedure. Desirable Outcomes.
References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XVI. Art —Principles Underlying Instruction
The Four Elements of Art. The Aims of Art in the Primary Grades. Procedure. References for Further
Study.

CHAPTER XVII. Art— Instructional Procedures
Drawing. Construction. Color. Design. Appreciation. Desirable Outcomes.

CHAPTER XVIII. The Non-Skill Objectives
A Brief Preface to Three Chapters.

CHAPTER XIX. Training for Character
Child and Adult. Character and the School. Course of Study. Method : Conviction or Habit? Desirable Outcomes. References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XX. Training for Health
Scope of Primary Health Work. Desirable Outcomes. References for Further Study.

XXI. Introducing the Child to His School and Natural Environment
The World of Things. The World of Men. The World of Nature. Desirable Outcomes in Nature Study.
References for Further Study.

CHAPTER XXII. About Our Profession