The Alberta Public School Speller Authorized by the Minister of Education for Alberta

Part 1

Chapter 14,165 wordsPublic domain

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=.

Breves and macrons are accurately represented (ă ĕ ā ē etc). Letter e with a dot above is represented by ė. Letters a and u with a diaeresis underneath are shown as a̤ ṳ (using Unicode combining diacritical).

Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

THE ALBERTA PUBLIC SCHOOL SPELLER

_Authorized by the Minister of Education for Alberta._

TORONTO THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED

CONTENTS.

PAGES Standard I, Grades 1 and 2 1-25

Review of Hard Words 26-30

Standard II, Grade 3 31-54

Review of Hard Words 55-58

Standard III, Junior, Grade 4 59-82

Rules for Spelling 83

Review of Hard Words 84-87

Words Often Mispronounced 88

Standard III, Senior, Grade 5 89-112

Review of Hard Words 113-116

Standard IV, Junior, Grade 6 117-139

Review of Hard Words 140-143

Words Often Mispronounced 144

Standard IV, Senior, Grade 7 145-164

Review of Hard Words 165-167

Small Words 168

Standard V, Junior, Grade 8 169-188

Review of Hard Words 189-191

Rules for Syllabication and Spelling 192

Public School Leaving 193-197

Small Words 198

The Building of English Words 199-200

Prefixes 200-203

Suffixes 203-210

English Root Words and Derivatives 210-212

Latin Words and Derivatives 213-226

Greek Root Words and Derivatives 227-230

Words, Phrases and Noteworthy Sayings 231-236

Abbreviations and Contractions in common use 237-242

CHIEF FEATURES.

=1. Choice of Words.= There has been a careful selection of those words best suited for the various grades or years in school.

=2. Grouping of Words.= These words have been so grouped as to favor their being taught economically, and to impress upon the pupil that spelling rests largely upon a basis of law and order. In the earlier grades the sequence of lessons gives an orderly development of phonic forms; by this arrangement spelling and phonic reading can be made mutually helpful.

=3. Dictation Exercises.= These are so constructed as to give in the briefest space an adequate test of the words taught. They should be supplemented by sentences constructed by the pupil, embodying the new and difficult words he is learning.

=4. Reviews.= There are regular reviews at short intervals. Many of the hardest words appear several times, but with some change of context. At the end of each year's work there is given in alphabetical order a list of the most difficult words used therein.

=5. Seat Exercises.= These exercises are intended to lead the pupil to make lists of words having a phonic element in common, to show how words are built up, and, later, to give practice in derivation.

=6. Homonyms.= There has been a systematic use of these throughout the book, but in the junior grades they are not given together, in order to prevent the confusion that often results from such a practice.

=7. Spelling Rules.= There are numerous and varied exercises to lead, inductively, to a knowledge of the most useful rules for spelling.

=8. Authority.= The authority usually followed for spelling and pronunciation is THE CONCISE IMPERIAL DICTIONARY. The pupil should be taught the system of diacritical marks employed therein.

THE ALBERTA

PUBLIC SCHOOL SPELLER.

STANDARD I.

GRADES 1 AND 2.

back pack black Jack crack track see whip give they bring horse cry were ducks

SEAT WORK.--Put h, l, s, t, r, sm, st, sl, wh, qu, with --ack

DICTATION.--See Jack on a black hack. Crack the whip, Jack, and give the horse a whack. Bring back a sack of bran. Ducks cry quack. A pack of dogs ran to the hay stack. They were on the track of a black fox. Give me a tack to fix the rack. Bring back the ducks. See Jack whip the black horse. The dogs track the fox.

neck check wreck kick chick quick very two house peas there where yes play ship

SEAT WORK.--With --eck put b, p, d, fl, sp; and with --ick put l, p, s, t, w, br, sl, st, th, tr.

DICTATION.--The wick is very thick. Pick two pecks of peas. Be quick. Where is the brick house? There is a speck of red on the chick. Is Jack sick? Yes, Dick hit him with a stick. Play no bad tricks. The ship was a wreck. See the horse kick. The hen has two chicks. There are two black dogs. Give me a thick stick.

rock clock crock duck cluck stuck boy toy girl new much warm key little baby

SEAT WORK.--Put l, d, m, s, bl, fl, sh, st, fr, with --ock; and l, b, s, t, pl, tr, str, with --uck.

DICTATION.--Hens cluck but ducks quack. That boy has much pluck. The clock struck two. The key stuck in the lock. That little girl has a new frock. Tuck baby up warm. I got a toy ship in my sock. A crock of peas. See the flock of ducks by the rock. There is the little baby. Bring me a black frock.

NOTE.--Pupils should use the words in the lists and exercises in sentences of their own.

and sand grand hang sang sprang hear near church one none done drum upon write

With --and put b, h, l, s; and with --ang put r, b, g, cl, sl. Copy,--I see her. She sees us. We see you.

Hear the band play. One man bangs the drum. The two boys are in the grand stand. Hang the key near the clock. That girl sang in church. Has Jack done one sum? No, he has none yet. Write clang and slang in ink. Were you near the new church? Dick sprang upon a black horse. I hear baby cry.

king bring thing song wrong strong you your wasp over fence mitts tie door bell

Write r, fl, cl, spr, sl, st, str, sw, with --ing; put u for i in the words in --ing. Copy,--Is that you? Is that he?

Can you spring over that fence? The wasp may sting you. Were your sums wrong? Yes, all but one. There is a crack in the crock. Bring a strong string to tie it. Fling me the keys. The swing is long and strong. Wet mitts cling to your hands. Ring the door bell. She flung the peas over the door.

6 (REVIEW)

gives lives were one once fence boy toy joy fix six mix such much church

Tom lives in a red brick house. Once there was a little black boy. He sang six songs for the king. Pick up your toys. Fix the fence near the church. It gives such joy to hear you sing. Do not mix sand and bran. Where were your mitts? It is wrong to whack your horse so. I see six stacks of hay. Can Jack write? Give me the ink. I have none.

ash cash crash dish fish wish water snap have more like pony finger knife words

Put l, s, h, m, r, cl, tr, thr, spl, with --ash.

See the fish splash in the water. The dish fell with a crash. How much cash have you? Do you wish a little more hash? Snap the new whip lash. My horse ran like a flash. It is wrong to thrash your pony so. The jack-knife cut a gash in my finger. Write two more words. Where is your new knife?

fresh flesh thresh hush rush thrush pork sweet blood rye nose road sofa worm Mary

Write words like hog with d, l, f, b, j, fl, fr; as, dog. Put g, m, fl, sl, br, with --ush. Copy,--It is I. It is she. It is we.

Pork is the flesh of hogs. We thresh rye and peas. Hear the sweet song of the thrush. Is there much slush on the road? See the blood gush from his nose. See Mary blush! Stop, you may crush the worm. Brush the plush sofa. Frogs live in fresh water. Do not flog your pony. See Dick write.

lass mass bass glass less mess Bess bless hiss miss kiss bliss loss moss boss gloss fuss muss buss truss

Put p, gr, br, cl, with --ass; and t, fl, cr, acr, with --oss.

Give the horses less grass. There is a brass lock. Jack got six black bass. Pack the moss in a glass box. Do not muss your new dress. You may kiss baby once. Floss has much gloss. Is Miss Bess very cross? Toss the sack across your back. Less fuss in class! Is there much glass in that door?

fast last past best nest chest blue birds year said mice John coat half great

With --est put r, l, j, p, t, v, w; and with --rap put t, st, w, sc. Add --s to whip, duck, horse, boy, word.

Two blue birds had a nest there last year. Brush your best coat and vest. Lock fast the chest. John said that in jest. Mice are a great pest. The church is west from your house. I got two mice in a trap. Run fast, it is half-past six. He said you were at church. My new coat is blue. One is the half of two.

fist twist wrist dust trust crust wind make copy our about books apple papa mamma

Write c, l, t, fr, with --ost; and m, j, b, g, r, thr, with --ust. Copy,--Is it they? That was I. Is it she?

A gust of wind makes much dust fly. Copy a list of your best books. That apple pie has a thick crust. Mamma, see the frost on the grass. Twist a string about your wrist. I must have just one more apple. Papa trusts me with our pony. How much did your coat cost? They lost two little dogs near the church.

12 (REVIEW)

about swing water said where none much smash pony gives great wrong clock fence thrash apple mitts worm crust little year quick peas finger once knife were church half sweet

Put y, ag, at, ax, ing, ash, ock, eck, op, og, with fl--. With n, h, r, sh, sp, tr, bl, pl, make words in --ot.

Give Mary more sweet peas. Where was your knife? He said much about the apples. Water my pony.

slant plant chant bent sent spent storm praise week four what shop buy pair some

Put c, h, l, y, with --ard; and b, d, m, h, p, l, sp, sh with --ark. Copy and fill in,--My name is -- --. I am -- years old.

The storm bent the plant. It slants very much. In church we chant the praise of God. John sent for four socks. The dogs bark in your yard. What is the rent of your shop? We sent you some apples. Buy a pair of pants. He spent a week in a tent. John got much praise.

hint flint print hunt grunt blunt wolf plums story next axe says noise river candy

Write words in --ift with g, l, s, sh, sw, dr. Put a letter with --lip, --pit, --ring, --wing, --rock. Copy,--Yes, sir, I saw you.

Some men hunt a wolf. Hear the pig grunt. This axe is very blunt. Will you print our next story? Jack says that apple is hard as flint. Give him a hint to make less noise. I got a gift of candy and plums. Can we cross that swift river in a punt? Yes, but you may drift upon a rock. She says the wolf got over the river.

damp scamp tramp bump thump stump lazy idle five work cent table camel beside Henry

Change one letter in fl_e_sh, ch_e_ck, _g_ive, _p_ick, cr_u_sh, gl_o_ss. With --ip put l, sl, sh, sk, ch, dr, tr, str, h, wh.

Lazy tramps will not work. A camel has one or two humps. Pump some water. Make your pony jump over that stump. Buy a two-cent stamp. Henry is an idle scamp. Camp beside the river. Last week I had the mumps. We have five lamps. Baby thumps upon the table. Give me one cent for candy.

16 (Doubled Letters)

add odd Ann bee see egg all ill off shoo purr buzz any many three even happy busy

Put h, j, sh, cl, sl, cr, sw, with --am. Change the marked letter in w_o_rm, _w_ent, _d_one, bl_o_ck, n_e_ck, _f_ling, _g_ash, cr_u_sh.

Ann is very ill. Add two and four. Hear the bee buzz. Shoo off any ducks. Many boys play odd or even. See me jump off the pony. Cats purr if they are happy. The busy bee works all the day. Buy some eggs and four black bass. The three fish swam off. Is three odd or even? How many apples in the sack? There are none. Was Henry busy last week? Were there many plums on the tree?

bank drank prank bunk drunk trunk eye again sleep sailor often pear iron coal orange

Put dr, w, p, m, l, bl, th, s, r, br, shr, with --ink; and t, bl, pl, sp, dr, cr, Fr, with --ank. Copy,--Was it she?

Frank writes in ink on a copy book. Wink your eye again. The iron trunk sank in the water. Sailors often sleep in bunks. I think that plank is strong. Thank mamma for the orange and pear. Do not drink much tea. Give Dick a chunk of coal. I trust he is busy with his sums. He says he often sees the sailor.

18 (REVIEW)

blue eye lazy crazy work word cent says again iron often soften buy knife writes wrong many pear camel orange

Papa gives me four cents to buy two pears. He says your eyes are blue. That idle tramp is not crazy. Write the new words often. Soften the crust in your tea. Iron my collar again. It was wrong to cut the table with your jack-knife. Bees are not lazy. How many oranges can one buy for five cents? Some camels are swift. Jack said he once had a little black pony. How many eyes have two camels?

catch patch snatch Dutch clutch crutch uses please rabbit sew lady wears Scotch watch Helen

Put c, d, f, p, t, with --ry; add --ing to each, as cry, crying. Make new words in --atch with b, h, l, m, sn, th.

Some hens hatch eight eggs. Please sew a patch on my silk skirt. The Scotch boy uses a crutch. Use an iron latch. That Dutch lady wears a gold watch. Scratch the match again. Rabbits live in a hutch. Catch the ball, Helen. Baby may clutch your toys.

ditch witch switch fetch sketch stretch scarf mouth wide open afraid dirty herd oxen who

Make new words with --itch and h, p, st. Add --s to lock, key, neck, king, worm, song, wrist, flag, crock, toy.

Fetch me a strong switch. Please stitch my silk scarf. Stretch your mouth wide open. Is there such a thing as a witch? I am not afraid of any. The ditch was half full of dirty water. Can you sketch that herd of oxen? Who are you? Are you afraid?

ball call all fall gall hall stall small tall wall bell yell dell fell sell shell spell smell tell well bill kill still fill gill hill mill pill till will doll collar dollar folly jolly holly Molly Polly loll dolly gull cull dull sully gully hull mull null lull skull one two three four five six seven eight nine ten

Add --y to dirt, dust, sleep, luck, hand, puss, wind.

arch march starch birch perch torch along chop robin larch porch quickly does such pinch

For b in bench or bunch put Fr, h, l, w, p, st, tr. Make words in --ig with b, f, g, j, p, r, w, tw.

March along quickly to church. Chop off a branch of birch or larch. Does the robin perch on your porch? Ask for a small pinch of starch. Write again in French for a torch. Which do you like best, bass or perch? Does Helen drink water at lunch? That worm is an inch or two long. Three and five are eight.

talk walk chalk kept wept slept board knees Lucy floor next hurt aunt uncle flower

Add --es to box, fox, watch, church, dish, wish, glass, brush, class, ditch, patch. Copy,--Mr. John Smith; Mrs. Ellen Jones.

Write on the board with chalk. Baby crept on hands and knees. Next year she will walk and talk. Aunt Lucy wept when you were hurt. How many flowers on that stalk? I slept till half-past eight. I kept the candy uncle sent me. She swept the floor. A gully is a ditch made by water. Buy some collars.

stiff skiff cliff cuff puff snuff high good smoke soft cloth cheeks fur calf paper

Write all the words that you can make from 'carpet,' 'blacken,' 'holiday.' With --ask put c, m, t, fl.

Iron my cuffs and collars stiff. Uncle uses snuff. Puff out your cheeks. She lost her fur muff. Papa has a good skiff. See the whiff of smoke. Stuff paper or soft cloth into the hole. The calf fell from a high cliff. John makes eight or nine dollars a week.

25 (REVIEW)

catch please does crept fetch aunt uncle flower praise quickly knife knees robin rabbit happy chalk calf next high table Helen eight said week board

Add --ing to buy, work, pull, fall, wink, sleep, bring, ask.

Please, uncle, buy me a pair of rabbits. Which is your knife? Does John write quickly? Watch the robin fetch four worms. Aunt Helen is happy. Next week I shall be eight. Please catch the calf. He crept on his knees to the high table. He said much in praise of flowers. Put chalk on the board.

hung stung swung belt melt dwelt lion gate swamp front lace shoe skate shelf silver

Put with --ung s, b, r, cl, fl, sl, spr, str; with --elt, put f, kn, p, sp. Write a or i for u in the words in --ung.

Some bees stung a great lion. Papa swung me high on the gate. They dwelt near a swamp. John hung his belt in the front hall. He knelt to lace his shoe. He slung his skates upon the shelf. Can you melt silver? Have you strung the glass balls on that string? Ring the bell at the front door, please.

bind blind grind born horn thorn come waist melon grist wrist blow oats both Canada

With --ind put f, h, k, m, r, w, bl; with --ond f, b, p. Add --ed to walk, fix, play, rock, melt, puff, wish, pelt.

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn. A sharp thorn stuck in my wrist. Is he blind in both eyes? The grist mill grinds corn and oats. Is he fond of melon rind? Were you born in Canada? Wind a cord about your waist. Mind what papa says. Can you find my copy book? The waist of my new dress is black. Canada gets much praise for her apples.

paw jaw straw awl shawl crawl lawn dawn drawn down gown clown brown drown frown owl fowl growl

Make words in --aw with l, c, h, p, r, s, t, cl, sh, dr, cr, th; and in --ow with b, c, h, m, n, r, s, sc, br.

Lucy buys a brown shawl. Worms crawl across the lawn. Dogs howl and growl. Down town I saw a new gown. Use an awl to sew my shoe. The clown may drown there. Puss has four paws with strong claws. The scow was drawn to the mill and sawn. Do not frown or look cross. I hear the fowl at dawn.

drew grew screw few blew flew die lie tie cabin under before tiger boat sister father mother brother

Put d, h, J, m, n, p, ch, sl, st, with --ew; and b, st, c, th, with --rew. Add --er to work, talk, farm, bank, fish, thresh.

He threw the screws under the cabin. The Jew slew a tiger. The storm blew and the good boat flew. Yet few of her crew were lost. The calf chews straw. I have a father and mother, two brothers and three sisters. Tie your shoe before you lie down. Brew the tea. Is your father a farmer? Henry is a great talker.

tree free three feed weed bleed seed steed tweed hitch buggy against sure began among beef broth soup

With --ee put b, f, s, w, th, kn. Add --ing to feed, seed, buy, try, work, hear, talk, see, add.

Hitch the steed to the buggy. Buy a tweed coat. He hurt his knee against a tree. It began to bleed. Feed the horse half a peck of oats. Make sure there are no weeds among the seeds. Fetch some beef broth or soup. The blue-bird has a nest with four wee eggs. Are you sure you write and spell well?

31 (REVIEW)

boat wrist melon tweed quickly soup slew waist chews growl Lucy shawl dwelt swamp scratch come knelt cabin Canada buggy lion tiger sprang among against

The lion sprang upon the tiger and quickly slew him. The cabin of the boat was full of melons. Lucy wears a tweed belt about her waist. Dogs growl in the swamp. There comes our buggy. I knelt upon the shawl. He dwelt in Canada. Fetch some soup. I scratch my wrist against a tree. Chew the beef well.

eel heel wheel cool spool school after carpet summer made swells lemons jerk away chums

Make new words in --eel with f, p, st, kn; in --ool with f, p, t, st. With --eek put m, s, w, ch, sl, cr. Cows cry moo.

See the eel swim after the perch. Our school is kept too cool in summer. Kneel on the thick carpet. Does Henry use a swift wheel? There are seven days in one week. The lump on my heel feels soft. Jerk away the stool. Mamma sent me to buy lemon peel. Our best tools are made of steel. A spool of silk sells for nine cents. Do not try to fool your chums. How sleek our pony looks. It is too cold to swim in the creek.

keep weep creep hoop droop stoop pussy softly twelve yarn hawk farmers roof along scrub

With --eep put d, p, sh, sl, st, sw. Put --oop with c, l, sc, sl, sw. Add --ing to such of these as you can.

Some boys keep watch over the sheep. I did not sleep till twelve o'clock. Pussy creeps softly to catch the mice. Stoop down and scoop up the pool of water. Please tie a loop in this yarn. Farmers often keep fowl in a coop. Then the hawk cannot swoop down upon them. The roof is too steep. Why do the flowers droop? Scrub the front stoop. Were you weeping just now? Roll your hoop along the road.

beet sweet street boot root shoot those sugar target under train worth visit snow winter

With --eet put f, m, fl, gr, sh, sl; with --oot put h, t, sc. Put another o in drop, stop, hot, shot, hop; as, --drop, droop.

In some beets there is much sugar. Shoot at a target, not at birds. How much are those boots worth? We sleep under a cool sheet. Meet your aunt at the train and greet her kindly. How many feet have four horses? Snow and sleet come in winter. Owls hoot. John toots on his new horn. The boys scoot down the street. Will you visit us again? The fleet will meet next week. Some roots are sweet.

beer deer steer room bloom broom clean better young gone being birthday sun lily bigger

Put ch, qu, sn, with --eer; and b, d, l, gl, gr, with --oom. Make new words in --oon with c, l, m, n, s, sp.

A new broom sweeps clean. Sun and water make the lily bloom. Tea is better than beer. Many deer live in Canada. Steers are young oxen. Three cheers for our school. Booms keep logs from being lost. He has gone to groom the pony. Tweed cloth is made in a loom. Is the moon bigger than the sun? What a queer bird the loon is. Uncle gave me a silver spoon on my birthday. Some deer feed on lily roots. Too large or too small.

breeze freeze sneeze goose loose moose plump burst bottle search proof apron wrap north queen

Make words in --een with k, s, gr, qu; in --oof with h, r, pr. Put ee for oo in tooth, pool, goose, soon, sloop, boot.