Towner County, North Dakota - Picton School, District 6 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ (C)2001 Mary Lindbo A GRADED COURSE OF STUDY FOR COMMON SCHOOLS FROM TEACHER'S REGISTER PICTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 6 COUNTY OF TOWNER, STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA FOR SCHOOL NO. 6 - 1899-1903 E GRADE FIRST YEAR READING 1. Begin with blackboard and chart work 2. Use the word and sentence methods, teaching words and easy sentences in connection with familiar objects and pictures. 3. After about ten weeks introduce "First Reader", but continue blackboard work in developing the lessons. 4. Drill on all words taught until they are the pupil's property. Use several "First Readers' as supplementary reading. Secure natural, easy expression of all sentences or "little stories". Beware of "dull, drawling, monotone". SPELLING 1. Teach the words of the reading lesson by sound and by letter, being careful to secure the phonic value of letters. 2. Drill in correct form of words by letting pupils write reading lesson on blackboard and at their seats. Use script only. In seat work use long pencils and slate or paper ruled to show height of letters. LANGUAGE 1. Improve pupils' vocabulary by conversing with them about pictures and common things, training them to express their thoughts in complete sentences. 2. Use words from reading lesson in making sentences. Tell short stories and have pupils reproduce in their own language. Commit brief selections of choice poetry and prose. 3. Teach the use of capitals, period, and question mark. NUMBERS 1. Teach all combinations of numbers up to 10. 2. Count to 100 by objects, singly and in smaller groups. 3. Make clear every step in composition or analysis of numbers by using object, e.g., corn, beans, blocks, books, pupils, marks, the quart, the dime, the week, the foot, etc., thus giving the concrete before the abstract. 4. Teach Roman notation to 10 and the use of signs for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and equals. GENERAL 1. Insist on correct position of body and given frequent callisthenic drills. 2. Exercises in singing in soft, pure tones. Teach simple airs. 3. Teach neatness, cleanliness, good manners, and simple laws of health. 4. Lessons in nature study in connection with reading and language. 5. Seat Work: Paper folding, stick laying, modeling, distinguishing principal colors by means of colored stocks or paper; drawing lines, easy combinations of lines and simple figures, e.g., box, cup, leaves, fruit, etc. Keep your pupils pleasantly employed. Idling makes loafers. D GRADE SECOND YEAR READING 1. "Second Reader" and easy, supplementary reading. 2. Continue phonic drill; insist on easy, natural utterance. 3. Give frequent exercises in reading at sight easy selections from First and Second Readers and from juvenile papers and leaflets. SPELLING 1. Spell the words of the reading lesson both orally and in writing; use common diacritical marks. LANGUAGE 1. Teach name-words, quality words, action words and use them in sentences. 2. Reproduce in simple statements main points in reading lesson. 3. Oral reproduction of stories. 4. Written statements giving observations made in nature study, e.g., flowers, minerals, domestic animals, weather, etc. 5. Insist on correct language in all written and oral work. NUMBERS 1. All combinations of numbers from 10 to 20. 2. Count to 100 by 2's, 3's, 4's - 10's. 3. Read and write numbers to 1000. 4. Give applied examples from pupils' surroundings. Use foot, yard, dollar, gallon, bushel, etc. and their parts. 5. Give oral and written drill daily in rapid adding and subtracting. GENERAL 1. Frequent callisthenic drills. Simple laws of health. 2. Music, simple nature songs, exercise songs, etc. 3. Continue and broaden nature study, laying the foundation for geography. 4. Continue paper folding and drawing. 5. Keep your pupils in a pleasant, healthy frame of mind. They should work driven by the pleasure they derive from their work. 6. Review continually. Plan all work carefully and in detail. C GRADE THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS READING 1. "Third Reader" and supplementary reading: e.g., nature stories, stories from American history, stories of adventure, fairy tales. 2. Insist on correct punctuation and an easy and natural expression. Give frequent drill in phonics and practice sight reading. 3. Oral reproduction of reading lesson. Written exercises on principal parts. SPELLING 1. Spell words occurring in branches studies. 2. Teach common abbreviations and continue diacritical marks. 3. Pupils should know meaning of all words spelled. Continue written and oral work. LANGUAGE 1. An easy, first book in "Language Lessons". 2. Supplement each part of this by written exercises on parts of reading lesson and by reproduction of fables, fairy tales and short stories. 3. Go slowly and do thorough work. Develop power and description of things seen. 4. Memorize gems of poetry and prose. NUMBERS 1. Measuring, separating, comparing and combining numbers up to 100. 2. Reducing numbers 100-1000 to their elements. 3. Drill in addition and subtraction. Develop and apply principles of multiplication and division. 4. Exercises in fractions 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10. 5. Supplement elementary arithmetic by original examples, work in tables of U.S. money, long and square measure and by concrete illustrations of all work in fractions. Do not use too large numbers. Complete elementary book. 6. Mental and written arithmetic are not united at every step. GEOGRAPHY 1. Map and description of school grounds and immediate vicinity. 2. Nature study and stories of other lands 3. Elementary text book and globe. GENERAL 1. Systematic oral instruction in physiology and hygiene and effects of narcotics and stimulants. 2. Regular exercises in music, drawing, writing and physical training. 3. Elements of good citizenship in connection with biography of American patriots. Civil government in connection with home geography. B GRADE FIFTH AND SIXTH YEARS READING 1. "Fourth Reader" with supplementary reading; e.g., Primary U.S. History; biography of famous Americans; suitable nature studies. 2. Give close attention to expression, articulation and emphasis. Teach how to prepare lessons. Use dictionary. 3. Develop "thought-getting" and an easy, natural mode of delivery. 4. Encourage pupils to read juvenile papers and easy books on biography, travel and adventure. 5. Memorize literary gems. SPELLING 1. Use spelling book and supplement same by lists of words occurring in branches studied. 2. Master diacritical marks thoroughly. 3. Insist on good spelling in all written work. 4. Begin study of synonyms, prefixes, and suffixes. LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR 1. Advance book in language 2. Practice writing paragraphs and selections from memory and from dictation and descriptions of familiar events and scenes. Correct written work in the study of geography, history, etc. 3. Teach definition, classification and simple syntax of all parts of speech. Develop principal elements of sentence. ARITHMETIC 1. Review notation, numeration and principles or multiplication and division. 2. Teach factoring, compound numbers, decimal and common fractions in their practical application. 3. Give daily drill in mental arithmetic, developing principles, reviewing work done and acquiring speed and accuracy. GEOGRAPHY 1. Introduce second book of two-book series. 2. Develop rapidity and accuracy in map drawing both on blackboard and on paper. 3. Appeal to the pupil's powers of observation and reasoning; connect the work with history; develop fundamental principles of physical geography. HISTORY 1. Review primary history, teach history of state. PHYSIOLOGY 1. Introduce first book in physiology and hygiene, and nature and effect of narcotics and stimulants. CIVIL GOVERNMENT 1. Oral work on civil government of school district, township, city and county. GENERAL 1. Music, drawing, writing and physical training. A GRADE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH YEARS READING 1. "Fifth Reader" and supplementary reading. 2. Study American and English authors and create a desire for pure, wholesome literature. 3. All work should be critical and careful both with regard to thought and language and with regard to vocal culture. ORTHOGRAPHY 1. Word analysis, rules of spelling and constant use of dictionary. GRAMMAR 1. Practical portions of formal grammar should be completed. 2. Continual practice in composition, especially in the study of other branches. ARITHMETIC 1. Percentage, ratio, equal factors. 2. Commercial paper and simple forms of bookkeeping. 3. Review fractions. Continue mental drill. U.S. HISTORY - continued GEOGRAPHY 1. Mathematical, political and descriptive geography completed. PHYSIOLOGY 1. Advanced book completed CIVIL GOVERNMENT 1. Teach civil government of state and United States from text books. GENERAL 1. Music and physical training. Not more than four of above named studies should be studied at one time. ALL GRADES WRITING 1. There should be only two classes: E and D Grades in one; C and those of B and A who need the drill, in the other. The primary class using ruled paper or ruled slates and long pencils; the other using copy placed on board by teacher, copy books, pens and ink. 2. Instruction should be carried on in both at the same time. 3. Aim: ease and rapidity of movement, neatness and legibility. 4. Follow up the work done in the writing class, by insisting on neatness and legibility in all written work. GENERAL LESSONS General exercises in patriotism, morals and manners, current events, in the study of animals, plants, minerals, simple experiments in chemistry and physics, or drills in music or physical culture, may be assigned a special place, as given in program or make take the place of regular classes. MEMORIAL DAYS 1. Washington's birthday, Lincoln's birthday and Memorial Day - May 30th - should be observed not merely by closing the school, but by bringing home to the pupils the reasons why we honor our national heroes. Their courage, devotion and love of country should serve as an object lesson in patriotism. If the pupils cannot be convened for a celebration on the holiday, use a part of the preceding day for such purposes. 2. The birthdays of our poets should also be remembered. On such days the life, character and writings of Bryant, Whittier, Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes, Emerson, etc., should be discussed and choice selections memorized. (Brander Mathews' American Literature is an excellent aid in this work.) 11/25/2001 Page 6 of 9