Dick and Jane Primers

• First published in the 1930s
• Were in a lawsuit because they are similar to Dick and Dora readers (The Happy Venture Playbooks)
• Began with learning to read using the whole word or sight word reading method
• By 4th Grade, used them for Reading to Learn and content became more important
• Black characters and characters from other races and cultures were not introduced until 1965

The New England Primer

Published between 1687 and 1690, was the first reading primer designed for the American Colonies.

The foundation of most schooling before the 1790s.

1777 Edition

Hornbooks

Hornbooks: teaching aid consisting of alphabet, the Lord’s Prayer, and perhaps a poem, mounted on wood tablet and protected by thin plate of horn

Making hornbooks and fun facts