MCGUFFEY's Eclectic Readers are excellant source books for homeschoolers. They were written by Rev. William Holmes McGuffey starting in 1841. Even though these books are rather old the materials in them are still applicable and very useful today in teaching a child.
This first reader of 1841 introduces children to McGuffey's ethical code. The child modeled in this book is prompt, good, kind, honest and truthful. This first book contained fifty-five lessons.
The second reader appeared simultaneously with the first and followed the same pattern. It contained reading and spelling with eighty-five lessons, sixteen pictures and one-hundred sixty-six pages. It outlined history, biology, astronomy, zoology, botany; table manners, behavior towards family, attitudes toward God and teachers, the poor; the great and the good. The duties of youth are stressed. Millions of pioneer men and women were alumni of this second reader college, they were able to read and write English.
The third reader was much more formal. It contained rules for oral reading of it's fifty-seven lessons. This book contained only three pictures and was designed for a more mature mind, of junior high standing today.
The fourth reader was an introduction to good literature. It contained British poetry and used the Bible among it's selections. This text was addressed to the highest grade in schools, it's difficulty compared to that of American secondary schools. It discussed Napoleon Bonaparte, Puritan fathers, women, God, education, religion and philosophy.
The fifth reader was designed for elocutionary exercises to increase articulation, inflection, pitch, accent, rate, emphasis and gesture. It contained poetry and prose by Sigourney, Montgomery, Addison, Irving, Young and Byron.
In the sixth and final reader of 1885, there were 186 selections, 111 great authors were quoted such as Shakespeare, Longfellow, Dickens and Addison. The theme of the selections included several forms of composition, description, narration, argumentation and exposition. In this book there were also seventeen selections from the Bible.
The readers were very moralistic in tone.
This 6 series books can be obtained through Project Gutenberg for free along with a Speller. Just go to:
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Pageand enter MCGUFFEY in the site search engine.
This series can also be obtained brand new through various online book stores as a complete set.
