Hello. I asked this question about 6 months ago and I did not receive the info I needed. I got some guesses and discussion, but didn't come across anyone who could truly tell me what I have. Now I am getting closer to starting with these so I'm trying again. If you are brave enough to read through my actual question is at the end. :001_huh: Thanks!
In the 2004 edition of WTM on page 62, the author states the following: "(If you choose to use McGuffey, make sure to get the originals republished by John Wiley & Sons, rather than the reworked version published by Eerdmans.)"
If I were a writer maybe this sentence would make sense, but when she says "republished" and "reworked" those are not terms they use on the actual McGuffey Readers. There is no "republished" or "reworked" version. I only see words like Revised. Also none of the names she mentions above are on the McGuffey Readers I have found anywhere. So I bought some at a used sale, thinking they were the ones I needed, and now I don't know.
My set is McGuffey's Eclectic Readers, Revised Edition. (Does this mean it's "republished" or "reworked"???) The names do not match. I have Van Nostrand Reinhold as the publisher. WTM indicates a 1997 copy write date, but what I have is from some version of the original series. Each book has all three of the following CW dates: CW, 1879, by Van Antwerp, Brag & Col, CW, 1896, by American Book Company, CW, 1907 & 1920, by H. H. Vail. None of the names she mentions.
I did learn last time I posted that we are not supposed to use the version of McGuffey from a certain period of time when it was published as a whole language based program. Mine is not during those years, if you go by date. But it is not completely Phonics based, either. It's a combo. The books state that they are "especially adapted to the Phonic Method, the Word Method, or a combination of the two." Therefore, there is some whole language in what I have, but there is also Phonics. So maybe I need the version that is Phonics only? I have no clue.
AND by the way, what REALLY confuses me is that the latest date I can find anywhere is 1920, but there is a BAR CODE on the back of each book! LOL What do I have???
So. I want the exact version she is talking about in the book. I deviate from some things in WTM, but not on this one. Do I need to get rid of these and start over? If so, ordering them at the bookstore for $10.95 each, as suggested in p. 84 of WTM, is not my preferred option due to cost. Why can't I find this version when I try to order the books online?
Thank you in advance!
Blessings,
Tonie