From noah websters american spelling book, better known as the blue backed speller. Webster, a nationalist, intended this book, eventually in. Homes for sale in west hartford, ct william raveis real. Spelling book definition is a book with exercises for teaching how to spell. Students who complete websters american spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling will gain a command english reading, vocabulary, and spelling that is available in no other single book. Students came from a 100mile radius and boarded with families in the area. The great american educator noah webster first published a grammatical institute of. Student reading texts in america from 1607 1965 preceden. This speller became the authority in classrooms across the nation and was used with primers and readers as the core for language arts programs to. Over the course of 385 editions in his lifetime, the title was changed in 1786 to the american spelling book, and again in 1829 to the elementary spelling book. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new.
In the 1822 edition of his american spelling book, webster informs us, in ninetenths of the words in our language, a correct pronunciation is better taught by a natural division of the syllables and a direction for placing the ac cent, than by a minute and endless repetition of characters. Aug 19, 2015 the elementary spelling book by noah webster published later and also in the public domain, this was an improvement on the american spelling book. New england speechoften carried into western new yorkis based on vulgarisms listed in caleb binghams spelling book of the period. William webster officially changed the name of the speller to webster s elementary spelling book, but the edition became known as the blue back speller, named for the color of the original cover. Known by its colored cover, webster s blue backed speller remained popular for more than 100 years. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. Websters book, with its polysyllabic words broken into individual syllables and its precepts and fables, became the favorite. How or where she got it i do not know, but in some way she procured an old copy of websters blueback spelling book, which contained the alphabet, followed by such meaningless words as ab, ba, ca, da. Webster s analysis of the sounds of the consonants is fairly easy to understand and is similar to what you have learned from such phonics programs as alphaphonics. His blue backed speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading.
The original blue back speller by webster, noah october 25, 2002 hardcover. His first step in this direction was preparation of a grammatical institute of the english language, the first part being the american spelling book 1783, the famed blue backed speller, which has never been out of print. The bluebacked speller forgotten intellectual legacy of the american revolution as the revolutionary war was ending in 1783, a former soldier in that conflict named noah webster published a book that was to have an enormous influence on american culture. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. The original blue back speller by noah webster goodreads. Koch when the widder biled the taters, cowcumbers and yerbs raly stiddily on yender fire by the chimbly, she left them unkivered.
Websters book taught children how to read, spell, a. Reading and spelling were taught quite differently for most of history, with a method that. Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english, he also compiled the american spelling book, which was the basic textbook for young readers in early 19thcentury america. Buy a cheap copy of the original blue back speller. His goal was to provide a uniquely american, christcentered approach to training children. This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. Websters blue backed speller and new england primer. Being an improvement on the american spelling book. I began at once to devour this book, and i think that it was the first one i. Webster s blue backed speller is the popular name, derived from the blue paper covers, of noah webster s elementary spelling book, published continuously since 1783 under several titles. Both websters bluebacked spelling book and the new england primer were basic, foundational. There they sat, nearly thirty of them, on the rough benches, their faces shading from a pale cream to a deep brown, the little feet bare and swinging, the eyes full of expectation, with here and there a twinkle of mischief, and the hands grasping websters blueback spellingbook. He was calling attention to common pronunciations that presented problems when trying to teach proper spelling. Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united states.
Some of the published credits of webster include the elementary spelling book new edition, american spelling book. The great american educator noah webster first published a grammatical institute of the english language, otherwise known as the blue back speller, in 1783. Websters bluebacked speller is the popular name, derived from the blue paper covers, of noah webster s elementary spelling book, published continuously since 1783 under several titles. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. The spelling book provided much of websters income for the rest of his life, and its total sales have been.
It included websters blue back spelling book, all of the mcguffey readers, history, geography, grammer, rhetoric, elementary and higher mathematics and latin. He found an old slave who did not know a letter, but was a prodigy in sounds. Both websters blue backed spelling book and the new england primer were basic, foundational textbooks used in the schools of our republic in the 18th. A primer for beginning readers or writing road to reading. Noah webster and the dream of a common language connecticut. Bluebacked spelling book author crossword clue answer.
Webster definition of webster by the free dictionary. The elementary spelling book aka blue back speller by webster 1829 when the 1820 version began to stop selling because of its outdated look webster revised his book in 1829called the elementary spelling book but soon dubbed the blue back speller because of its blue covers the new version became another success monaghan collection. Slave literacy and education in virginia encyclopedia. I was narvous and afeard theyd bile for an etarnity and arterwards thered be nothing to dreen, not a spumful left. Buy a cheap copy of websters bluebacked speller and new. It earned its nickname, the bluebacked speller, because of its characteristic blue cover. How or where she got it i do not know, but in some way she procured an old copy of webster s blueback spellin gbook, which contained the alphabet, followed by such meaningless words as ab, ba, ca, da. The happy results further motivated me to retype websters. How to use websters speller to teach spelling, handwriting. His blue backed speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell. Noah websters blue backed spelleras a teacher, he had come to dislike. With its distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the blue backed speller and was.
Noah webster 17581843 websters innovations, perfecting. Jan 25, 2010 supporters of the dictionary ban should draw courage from the fact that noah webster, creator of the first webster s dictionary and the author of webster s blue back speller, the most popular spelling book of its day, was himself so prudish that in 1833 he rewrote the king james bible taking out the dirty bits. What americas first cookbook says about our country and. While almost forgotten, this method of syllabic phonics is still powerful today. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author.
Oct 25, 2002 the great american educator noah webster first published a grammatical institute of the english language, otherwise known as the blue back speller, in 1783. As the revolutionary war was ending in 1783, a former soldier in that conflict named noah webster published a book that was to have an enormous influence on american culture. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Revised several times by webster, as the blueback speller it taught generations of americans how to read and how to spell. Hence, spelling books, like noah websters, were also instructional books in reading and models for writing in standard american english. Mar, 2021 over the course of his life, the american spelling book, or blue back speller, as it came to be known because of its beautiful blue cover, would pass through many editions. The focus on spelling and syllables 1 has allowed these student to be able to read and spell years above their grade level. Oct 17, 2020 elementary spelling book blueback speller by noah webster, 1969, pioneer historical society edition, in english. Noah webster 17581843 american, words, dictionary, and books.
To that end, he induced his mother to get hold of a book for him. A brief history lessonback to the basicsteach spelling. A sequel to websters elementary spelling book, 1844. Websters bluebacked speller is the popular name, derived from the blue paper covers, of noah websters elementary spelling book, published. In some way he procured an old websters blue back spelling book. Sep 18, 2019 websters blue backed spellerwebsters blue backed speller is the popular name, derived from the blue paper covers, of noah websters. The american spelling book national museum of american. Elementary spelling book blueback speller 1969 edition. Elementary spelling book blue back speller webster, noah on. I began at once to devour this book, and i think that it was the first one i ever had in my hands. By 1859, according to appleton and company of new york, the firm was printing the speller at the rate of a million and onehalf copies per year. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america.
For the first two centuries of american education, spelling was the backbone of reading instruction. Websters the american spelling book was commonly known as the blue backed speller due to its blue cover, and was one of the most popular spelling books. The original blue back speller vocabulary of a warrior. The spalding method for teaching speech, spelling, writing, and reading, and though his descriptions of the sounds of the. This was not websters famous dictionary, which didnt arrive on the scene until 1828. As pointed out last month in this series, even the well. Spelling book method of teaching reading if you decide to use the old blue backed speller, you might appreciate these helps from don potter. In 1783 american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, english spelling reformer. How to use noah websters reading handbook diy homeschooler. Revised several times by webster, as the blue back speller it taught generations of americans how to read and how to spell. Considered to be the thirdbest selling book of all time in america. This edition was used by the majority of literate americans well into the mid20th century.
Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. Websters the american spelling book was commonly known as the blue backed speller due to its blue cover, and was one of the most popular spelling books since its first publication in 1783. Noah webster s speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Transport backed by heroes turning from much backed animal blue i, blue ii and blue iii artworks. His blue backed speller books taught five generations of american children how to. How or where she got it i do not know, but in some way she procured an old copy of websters blueback spellingbook, which contained the alphabet, followed by such meaningless words as ab, ba, ca, da. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. The speller was followed by a book on grammar in 1784 and a reader in 1785. Websters article about websters by the free dictionary. Websters innovations, perfecting the spelling book for reading instruction, other works. Both webster s blue backed spelling book and the new england primer were basic, foundational textbooks used in the schools of our republic in the 18th and 19th.
He has been called the father of american scholarship and education. Slave literacy and education in virginia encyclopedia virginia. Most people called it the blue backed speller because of its blue cover and, for the next one hundred years, webster s book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. Websters banned for too much sex university of illinois at. The bluebacked speller forgotten intellectual legacy of the. Loo backed with a blue mixture that could fetch a bit. Little did he know that this remarkable little gem would become the staple for parents and educators. For 100 years websters blue back speller taught americans to read. This development is called blue back square, in homage to webster s blue backed spelling book. Elementary spelling book blue back speller pioneer historical society, unknown binding, 1969. For over 100 years, websters book taught children to read, spell and.
Most people called it the bluebacked speller because of its blue cover, and for the. The bluebacked speller forgotten intellectual legacy of. Grammatical institute of the english language to the american spelling book. Yet the sales of webster s elementary spelling book, now dubbed affectionately the blue back speller or just ole blue back, continued to increase. Editions of the original blue back speller by noah webster. An elderly white lady and a boy with whom he played taught him the alphabet and to spell as far as twosyllable words, but he no farther then as he was caught in the unspeakable act of learning to read. Spelling book definition of spelling book by merriamwebster. The american spelling book national museum of american history.
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