Grammar & Writing Blog

It can be a challenge to get students to commit ideas to paper, let alone for them to understand how to write for different purposes or for specific audiences. You might find sometimes that you assign students to write an analysis of something they are reading only to discover that … Read more

The starkness of a white, blank notebook page can be frightening. Your fingers twitch with the desire for something, anything to just spill out. For the ink to somehow read your thoughts and know exactly where to make the page full. ‍This constant feeling can be a tough cycle to break for … Read more

Whether we are beginning writers, seasoned writing instructors, or best-selling novelists, writer’s block is bound to plague us all at some point or another, and it is highly likely to show up in the middle school or high school classroom when students are journaling or beginning an essay. ‍No matter … Read more

Here’s a quick kinesthetic grammar activity to introduce the topic of adverbs.  If you can pair a physical activity with a concept, studies show that retention levels among students increase.  Follow this easy, step-by-step guide to teach adverbs to your students. ‍Step 1: Ask For Two Volunteers ‍Ask for two … Read more

We all have that little voice of doubt inside of us.  You know – the one that’s constantly whispering, “Your writing stinks.  Give up on this draft while you have the chance.  You call yourself a writer?  What a laugh!”  Ah yes…now you know the voice I’m talking about. ‍We … Read more

As you have probably already experienced at some point in your teaching career, it can be a major challenge to have your students quietly find their seats and have their materials out, let alone have them complete a warm-up exercise. ‍With seemingly less and less time and more curriculum to … Read more

When conferencing with my students regarding their writing, a common request I hear, (usually after some stammering from the student) is, “I want to make sure that my writing flows.” ‍I might follow up by asking the student if he is referring to the flow between his sentences, the flow … Read more

Commas have so many uses in the English language that it is no surprise comma splices appear all throughout our students’ writing. We might applaud their efforts for wanting to use this handy piece of punctuation, but when students start using commas willy-nilly and placing them wherever they like, it’s … Read more

You and I both know all the benefits of student journaling. A chance to reflect, to simply express, to experiment, to refine skills, etc. The list can go on, but how you implement journaling in your classroom can make a difference in the results you may be seeking. Setting Expectations ‍Before … Read more

The following kinesthetic grammar activity is a great way to introduce the topic of direct objects to your students while getting them up and out of their seats. When you pair a physical movement with a grammatical concept, your students will maintain a higher level of retention of the topic, … Read more

Should I Flip My English/Language Arts Classroom? We, as English teachers, aren’t much different from Hamlet, you know. We weigh decisions every minute, nay – every second of our day. “Shall I call on Tommy, or should I call on Denise? Pablo hasn’t contributed to the discussion yet; maybe I … Read more

Audience is one of the most integral parts of writing regardless of an author’s skill or proficiency. Whether your students are writing a simple in-class narrative, a piece for a final exam, or a college application essay, their audience determines what kind of voice they want to convey in their … Read more