Bolenius Emma M. Elementary Lessons in Everyday English

New York, Cincinnati; American Book Company, 1920. — 345 p.This is a practice book in elementary language. It is adapted to the child's abilities and to classroom requirements. The three main objects of the book are: to make correct language habits automatic; to develop the child's thinking power and to give him richer backgrounds of life; and to make, him enjoy his work in language by weaving it around the doing of real things - projects. The book contains work for three years - two hundred lessons a year developed in twenty projects. Around the projects are woven the various exercises: thought-getting and observation, organization of ideas and outlining, conversation and formal talks, study of models, writing of letters and paragraph themes, critical exercises, technical matter, copying and dictation, dramatization, word study, an handwork. One formal talk and one pronunciation exercise are provided for each week during each year. While the pupils are guided toward a definite goal, yet provision is given for exercise of their own initiative. The special features of the book are:
Sixty projects adapted for class work - each providing opportunity for "purposeful activity" on the part of the class.
The socialized recitation - club organization, class as audience, cooperative group work, program-periods, blackboard class outlines, and voting. Training in thought- getting and organization - preventing failure by systematic development of ideas, organizing of ideas, oral expression in conversation and formal talks, and writing as the climax. Supervised class work — much work in outlining, compositions, and letters built up in class, thus giving the concrete demonstration that the poorly equipped child needs.