Cartilha Maternal; Ou, Arte De Leitura

''Cartilha Maternal; ou, Arte de Leitura'' by João de Deus is an educational text written in the late 19th century. The work is a pedagogical guide aimed at teaching reading and writing, particularly for children, through a practical and intuitive approach rather than traditional rote methods. The author critiques conventional syllabaries, advocating for a more engaging way of familiarizing students with letters and sounds. The opening of the work lays down the framework for teaching reading, emphasizing the importance of starting with vowels and constructing meaningful words from them. João de Deus argues against the mechanical and often tedious methods traditionally employed in schools, proposing instead a more natural and supported learning process that aligns with how mothers typically teach their children to speak. He presents the foundational lessons on letters and their combinations, setting a thoughtful tone that highlights the significance of fostering understanding in young learners.