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McGuffey's Primer #3
McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader
Since 1836, children have been delighted by these volumes filled with exotic adventures, exciting stories, beautiful poems, and funny fables. The Third Eclectic Reader includes "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," "The Wind and the Sun," and "We Are Seven."
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1920
46 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
William Holmes McGuffey
279 books16 followersWilliam Holmes McGuffey (September 23, 1800 – May 4, 1873) was an American professor and college president who is best known for writing the McGuffey Readers, one of the nation's first and most widely used series of textbooks. It is estimated that at least 122 million copies of McGuffey Readers were sold between 1836 and 1960, placing its sales in a category with the Bible and Webster's Dictionary.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 10, 2020
To my surprise I found this well used treasure on our home bookshelf. Turns out it has been passed down through my wife’s family, with relatives names in it since at least 1920s, so I had to take a look.
The McGuffey’s readers were used to teach vocabulary and reading skills. This edition has 79 lessons, each a page or two long, a poem or story, some in cursive writing, most containing vital information on how to live a good life by being a good child or an insight to Mother Nature’s charms. Now all have a certain nostalgic whimsey to them.
While reading this small book I held it like a bird, vibrant, yet fragile, published in 1907, at 113 years old I thought of the many hands its browned pages, some about to fall out, have seen. I’m of the “Dick & Jane and see Spot run” reader era, so this was great glimpse of what came before that.
The McGuffey’s readers were used to teach vocabulary and reading skills. This edition has 79 lessons, each a page or two long, a poem or story, some in cursive writing, most containing vital information on how to live a good life by being a good child or an insight to Mother Nature’s charms. Now all have a certain nostalgic whimsey to them.
While reading this small book I held it like a bird, vibrant, yet fragile, published in 1907, at 113 years old I thought of the many hands its browned pages, some about to fall out, have seen. I’m of the “Dick & Jane and see Spot run” reader era, so this was great glimpse of what came before that.
February 26, 2021
McGuffey’s readers are the BEST! The kids and I have been reading (and re-reading) their 6 reader books for 8yrs now. In general, individual kids read me a story from the reader book of their level and then I read it back to them. The stories are typically very wholesome and moral stories. They were written in the 1800’s, and are great books to build moral character, reading fluency and vocabulary (even as an adult as many of the words are not common words anymore).
November 13, 2022
I have the 1879 edition... Apparently later publishers had revised the original 1830ish version, reducing its clear Christian doctrine to a sort of vague deism, which was disappointing to learn (thanks Wikipedia). However, this was still an interesting lesson in historical curriculum!
January 6, 2017
McGuffey's 1879 thru 1920 copyrighted "Third Eclectic Reader Revised" is a powerful text used for the instruction of my grandparents in the late 1800's. The text teaches articulation, emphasis, and punctuation. These lessons are taught in the context of 79 prose and poem selections that also teach behavior standards, cultural mores, and practical methods for living a successful life. The textbook lessons are a delight to read and provide an historical context for understanding ancestry.
January 8, 2023
Full of moral teachings, no wonder modern day pundits don't reccomend these books.
Since the previous readers focused on decoding and fluency, this third reader focuses on information. And how meaty is the information! Many portions here I never learned in public school.
New to this third reader, each selection begins with a tip for how to read aloud. In the 19th century, these books were to be studied slowly. Each student in a one room school house might be on a different lesson. Whatever lesson the student was studying, the student would study, such as practicing spelling of the words in the vocabulary list at the end of the selection.
Meanwhile the teacher would call up the students in groups, depending on which reader they were in. Then each student would practice reading aloud. Thus the students emblazoned lessons into their brain, preparing them for the next lesson.
Many complain that such study is boring. Well, work is boring. Such is life. But the rewards make for easy reading later on.
One great piece in this volume is about the benefits of learning, and reading, to gain knowledge.
Many selections are about the value of fortitude.
Such topics are little taught today.
There are a few passages that I would discuss with my students, due to a difference in theology. In those selections McGuffey talks about a works based salvation, which isn't Biblical. Through a selection about lying, the author wrote that liars will be judged and sent to hell. Well, it's not through works that we gain heaven, but through Christ. We will be judged as Christians, but the Bible teaches are more true account.
That is why I don't depend on devotions or even moral books like this for our ultimate teaching. In our homeschool we began each day to learn Scripture, then compared our reading selections from other books to what Scripture said.
The third reader would be for roughly fifth through eighth grade, which shows that reading comprehension was far better in the 19th century than in the later 20th century to the present.
This book (as well as the other volumes) are meant to be studied slowly, for learning vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and comprehension.
Other books are meant to be read for fun. An excellent discourse on that is in the teacher guide, which I shall review when I'm done with the series.
Since the previous readers focused on decoding and fluency, this third reader focuses on information. And how meaty is the information! Many portions here I never learned in public school.
New to this third reader, each selection begins with a tip for how to read aloud. In the 19th century, these books were to be studied slowly. Each student in a one room school house might be on a different lesson. Whatever lesson the student was studying, the student would study, such as practicing spelling of the words in the vocabulary list at the end of the selection.
Meanwhile the teacher would call up the students in groups, depending on which reader they were in. Then each student would practice reading aloud. Thus the students emblazoned lessons into their brain, preparing them for the next lesson.
Many complain that such study is boring. Well, work is boring. Such is life. But the rewards make for easy reading later on.
One great piece in this volume is about the benefits of learning, and reading, to gain knowledge.
Many selections are about the value of fortitude.
Such topics are little taught today.
There are a few passages that I would discuss with my students, due to a difference in theology. In those selections McGuffey talks about a works based salvation, which isn't Biblical. Through a selection about lying, the author wrote that liars will be judged and sent to hell. Well, it's not through works that we gain heaven, but through Christ. We will be judged as Christians, but the Bible teaches are more true account.
That is why I don't depend on devotions or even moral books like this for our ultimate teaching. In our homeschool we began each day to learn Scripture, then compared our reading selections from other books to what Scripture said.
The third reader would be for roughly fifth through eighth grade, which shows that reading comprehension was far better in the 19th century than in the later 20th century to the present.
This book (as well as the other volumes) are meant to be studied slowly, for learning vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and comprehension.
Other books are meant to be read for fun. An excellent discourse on that is in the teacher guide, which I shall review when I'm done with the series.
May 4, 2023
Very interesting to see what was taught years ago!
June 25, 2025
from the book you can take a peek about how Native American being viewed in history
January 25, 2010
"Shannon Houghton, 8 years old. Henry Ford Museum, November 30, 1991. Went to see Santa."
January 25, 2010
One of my favorites of the entire set, I read each one out loud to my mother. I own the set now for my own children.
May 12, 2010
1869--battered , spine is taped. Pages still mostly white and readable. illos in good shape, will copy well.
September 22, 2010
These just get better and better. I love the content and the influence it is having on my almost 7yr old.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews