This document summarizes a blog post celebrating National Grammar Day. It discusses several grammar books for children, including Exclamation Mark, Super Grammar, and Miss Pell Never Misspells. These books use creative methods like illustrations and comics to engage students in learning grammar. The post encourages participants to share grammar tips in the comments for a chance to win a prize pack related to Super Grammar. Many commenters share their favorite rules and memory techniques for spelling and punctuation.
This document provides the summer reading assignment for students taking English I at Meadow Glen Middle School for the 2017-2018 school year. Students are required to read two books over the summer - one selected from an attached list and one self-selected book. For each book, students must write a evaluative book review of one page or less following specific guidelines. The book reviews are due on August 28, 2017. Teachers are available to answer any questions about the assignment.
3rd grade Text Dependent Questions lesson planFanny Dickinson
This document provides a rationale and plan for a 3rd grade mini curriculum using text dependent questions. It discusses how text dependent questions support deeper comprehension of texts by requiring students to find evidence from the text to answer questions. The curriculum will focus on the standard of asking and answering questions about a text by referring explicitly to the text. Three short stories that meet CCSS guidelines will be used that involve sports and relationships between fathers and sons. Plans are provided for whole-group activities using the stories, including think-pair-share and independent writing responses, to scaffold students' skills in text dependent questioning.
This document provides information about various reading resources for students, including books, awards, websites, and periodicals. It begins with a list of platforms for reaching readers like podcasts, YouTube, and Twitter. Then it discusses new books and award winners, including the Printz, Newbery, and Odyssey awards. It provides information on websites for book reviews and discussions. It also lists periodicals like Booklist, School Library Journal, and Horn Book. The document emphasizes the importance of researching to find books that will motivate reluctant readers and assessing students in ways they enjoy, like tweets, videos, or podcasts. It concludes by reminding readers that they have rights to read anywhere and anything they choose.
This document discusses a unit on relationships that a teacher developed for 5th grade students. The unit was designed to explore different types of relationships through literature. The teacher selected 27 books focusing on relationships between children and parents, siblings, friends, and other types of relationships. Questions are provided for each book to help students analyze the relationships and apply the lessons to their own lives. The goal is for students to gain a deeper understanding of relationships and their importance.
Publication Date: August 19, 2016
PreOrder Today! https://goo.gl/egiSRx
When was the last time you got a love letter? When was the last time you wrote a love letter? Now that writing love letters is a lost art, what better gift can you give the one you love than an old-fashioned, authentic, hand written, love letter! The purpose of this book is twofold. One, it shares some of the most romantic love letters ever written. They act as a model to help you express your love in a profound and personal way that your partner wil treasure for the rest of their life.
But first, what is love? In the year 2012, that phrase - what is love -, was the most researched phrase on Google. Five writers from diverse backgrounds tried to define what love is. The five people were a physicist, a psychotherapist, a philosopher, a romantic novelist, and a nun.
The answers they gave were eloquent, convincing, and yes, diverse. The nun said that love is a paradox. “Love is free yet binds us.” The romantic novelist said that love is everything. The philosopher said that love is a passionate commitment. The psychotherapist identified six different types of love and said that it is unlikely to experience all six types with only one person. And the physicist? He said that “love is chemistry.”
So what is love? In this book, I have tried to show love that is as diverse as the five authors above have defined it. I also try to show love that meets the precise definition that Paul gives in his first letter to the Corinthians, below:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~ The First Letter of Paul To The Corinthians 13:4-8
The document is the author's reading autobiography. It summarizes her experience learning to read as a child with supportive parents and family. As a teen, she used fantasy novels featuring female heroes to explore her identity and avoid social conflicts. In college, she became a more critical reader and reflected on how the books she read as a teen portrayed limited notions of feminism. As a librarian, she wants to help all young people find books that support their identity development and make reading a positive experience.
This document provides the summer reading assignment for students taking English I at Meadow Glen Middle School for the 2017-2018 school year. Students are required to read two books over the summer - one selected from an attached list and one self-selected book. For each book, students must write a evaluative book review of one page or less following specific guidelines. The book reviews are due on August 28, 2017. Teachers are available to answer any questions about the assignment.
3rd grade Text Dependent Questions lesson planFanny Dickinson
This document provides a rationale and plan for a 3rd grade mini curriculum using text dependent questions. It discusses how text dependent questions support deeper comprehension of texts by requiring students to find evidence from the text to answer questions. The curriculum will focus on the standard of asking and answering questions about a text by referring explicitly to the text. Three short stories that meet CCSS guidelines will be used that involve sports and relationships between fathers and sons. Plans are provided for whole-group activities using the stories, including think-pair-share and independent writing responses, to scaffold students' skills in text dependent questioning.
This document provides information about various reading resources for students, including books, awards, websites, and periodicals. It begins with a list of platforms for reaching readers like podcasts, YouTube, and Twitter. Then it discusses new books and award winners, including the Printz, Newbery, and Odyssey awards. It provides information on websites for book reviews and discussions. It also lists periodicals like Booklist, School Library Journal, and Horn Book. The document emphasizes the importance of researching to find books that will motivate reluctant readers and assessing students in ways they enjoy, like tweets, videos, or podcasts. It concludes by reminding readers that they have rights to read anywhere and anything they choose.
This document discusses a unit on relationships that a teacher developed for 5th grade students. The unit was designed to explore different types of relationships through literature. The teacher selected 27 books focusing on relationships between children and parents, siblings, friends, and other types of relationships. Questions are provided for each book to help students analyze the relationships and apply the lessons to their own lives. The goal is for students to gain a deeper understanding of relationships and their importance.
Publication Date: August 19, 2016
PreOrder Today! https://goo.gl/egiSRx
When was the last time you got a love letter? When was the last time you wrote a love letter? Now that writing love letters is a lost art, what better gift can you give the one you love than an old-fashioned, authentic, hand written, love letter! The purpose of this book is twofold. One, it shares some of the most romantic love letters ever written. They act as a model to help you express your love in a profound and personal way that your partner wil treasure for the rest of their life.
But first, what is love? In the year 2012, that phrase - what is love -, was the most researched phrase on Google. Five writers from diverse backgrounds tried to define what love is. The five people were a physicist, a psychotherapist, a philosopher, a romantic novelist, and a nun.
The answers they gave were eloquent, convincing, and yes, diverse. The nun said that love is a paradox. “Love is free yet binds us.” The romantic novelist said that love is everything. The philosopher said that love is a passionate commitment. The psychotherapist identified six different types of love and said that it is unlikely to experience all six types with only one person. And the physicist? He said that “love is chemistry.”
So what is love? In this book, I have tried to show love that is as diverse as the five authors above have defined it. I also try to show love that meets the precise definition that Paul gives in his first letter to the Corinthians, below:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~ The First Letter of Paul To The Corinthians 13:4-8
The document is the author's reading autobiography. It summarizes her experience learning to read as a child with supportive parents and family. As a teen, she used fantasy novels featuring female heroes to explore her identity and avoid social conflicts. In college, she became a more critical reader and reflected on how the books she read as a teen portrayed limited notions of feminism. As a librarian, she wants to help all young people find books that support their identity development and make reading a positive experience.
Kaylin McFarren is an author who minored in English in college and has led PR/marketing efforts for companies. She resides in Oregon and has been writing her whole life. Her latest book, Buried Threads, is erotic romantic suspense set in Japan involving lost treasure and dual love stories. Her inspiration was a Buddhist monk with gift of prophecy. She has a writing schedule but also writes late at night if inspired. She defines success as receiving fan mail appreciating her work. Her websites where readers can find more about her work are listed.
The document outlines a workshop on organizing libraries, discussing key library concepts, how children's and teen sections are organized using principles like uniformity and consistency, and Dewey Decimal Classification, and provides activities for participants like book swapping and making their own books if materials are limited. The workshop aims to teach librarians back to basics in organizing physical and online library collections for different age groups.
This document summarizes a presentation about books and reading. It discusses how reading is an interactive process between the author, text, and reader. It provides examples of positive and negative feedback on books from parents and reviews. It also summarizes the novel "Here Lies the Librarian" and discusses how the main character Irene Ridpath impacted the community and a boy named Pewee through promoting reading.
This document provides an overview of lesson plans and activities for a literature unit. It includes instructions for students to read passages from books, answer questions about characters' decisions, discuss vocabulary, and play childhood games. Students are asked to write about their first reading experiences and memories of games from their childhood. The document also lists learning objectives like recognizing an author's purpose and using reading strategies to evaluate characters.
Librarians at Irving ISD schools provide booktalks and recommendations to students in various innovative ways to promote reading. They booktalk to classes weekly, make slide presentations and bookmarks, create book trailers and podcasts, and encourage other staff and students to recommend books. Over 8,500 booktalking sessions were conducted by librarians this year. Booktalks are done both traditionally and using new technologies like QR codes and online reviews. Staff across the district support booktalks through morning announcements and displays of what they and their students are reading.
The best christmas pageant ever powerpoint 4kswitzer
The document provides reading and activity instructions for students reading the book "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. The story is about the unruly Herdman kids who take over the church Christmas pageant. Students will read chapters of the book, answer comprehension questions, do vocabulary work, compare themselves to a Herdman kid, and write a bio poem about one of the characters. They can also explore the author's background, compare the script to the story, and design a program for the pageant production. The document guides students through the entire process of reading and interacting with the book.
Presentation on book reviewing for the Virginia Assoc. of School Librarians, October 21, 2016. Includes discussion of controversial reviews and reactions to A TRIBE OF KIDS by Lane Smith.
This document provides a summary of notable books for promoting global awareness and 21st century learning skills. It discusses how using quality global literature can help students explore literary elements, diversity and common humanity, develop critical thinking skills, and make connections between literature and activism. Several book recommendations are provided across different genres including picture books, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Each book highlighted portrays other cultures authentically and promotes reflection on societal and global issues.
The author wants to study English to deepen their understanding and appreciation of language. They believe stories have the power to inspire change and want to use writing to give voice to oppressed groups. The structure of language fascinates them and they hope to share their knowledge with others, such as ESL professionals. Ultimately, the author dreams of becoming a children's author to help kids in difficult situations feel empowered, as reading did for them as a child. They are eager to learn from college professors and explore more challenging literature with expert guidance.
Miss Tauheed's favorite book is "Crick Crack Monkey" by Merle Hodge. It tells the story of a young Caribbean girl named Tee struggling to get an education despite facing racism, bullying, and injustice. The moving novel inspired Miss Tauheed to become a teacher by showing Tee's determination to achieve her goals despite the challenges.
This document summarizes a children's book called "Maisy Goes Camping". It notes that the book is targeted toward young elementary school students. It has large cartoon pictures of animals on each page and very few words. The story follows Maisy as she dreams of going camping with her animal friends. They struggle to put up their tent but eventually work together to complete the job. The summary evaluates that the book teaches about teamwork and accomplishing tasks through cooperation.
The document summarizes the activities and assignments from Mrs. Navejar's English 10 class for the week of October 15, 2007. They read excerpts from the book "My Left Foot" and watched the movie adaptation. Students created a reader's log and answered analysis questions about the excerpt. They also read and discussed the short story "A Visit to Grandmother's" and poems by Robert Frost and analyzed themes, tone, and literary elements. The week concluded with assignments to continue their reader's logs, practice spelling and grammar lessons, and participate in a "think aloud" reading activity.
This document provides guidance on how to do book reviews and book talks for adolescent literature that includes deaf or hard of hearing characters. It recommends choosing books with broad appeal, considering how diverse characters are portrayed, and understanding the difference between reviews and talks. Research findings show hearing authors presented deafness in a more cultural way while deaf authors included more pathological perspectives. The document also provides tips on book selection and presentation for book talks.
This double page spread from We Love Pop magazine features articles about Zayn and Harry from One Direction. Both articles discuss the boys' experiences in school and include large photos of them. Zayn's article is about how he felt like he didn't fit in, while Harry's discusses putting his girlfriend before his grades. The spread uses similar fonts, colors, and layout to link the two articles and maintain the magazine's brand identity.
This document provides guidance for teachers on motivating students to read through the TARGET framework: Trust, Access, Response, Guidance, Engagement, and Talk. It discusses establishing trust with recommended authors, providing access to books through various formats and genres, eliciting personal and critical responses, guiding students up the "reading ladder" through scaffolded experiences, engaging students using Cambourne's conditions for learning, and creating opportunities for book talks. Research findings on student motivations are presented, as are strategies like choice, differentiation, and complex yet accessible texts.
Khaled Hosseini graduated from Santa Clara University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The following year, he entered medical school at the University of California, San Diego. While practicing medicine, Hosseini began writing his debut novel, The Kite Runner, in March 2001. Published in 2003, The Kite Runner became an international bestseller published in 70 countries. The novel is set in Kabul, Afghanistan and California between 1975 and 2001 and follows the story of Amir and Hassan.
Libr271 a sambrano_assignment2_spring2011peepadeeps
The document summarizes the author's personal journey with reading from elementary school through high school and into the present. As a child, the author enjoyed library field trips but could not check out books. In middle school, the author discovered the library and began reading various genres, helped by a teacher's read-alouds. In high school, the author was able to check out books and enjoyed assignments that allowed choosing various titles. The author reflects on how school experiences enriched their mind with literature and led to a lifelong love of reading.
The document provides information about the HGHS Summer Read program which aims to encourage teenage students to read quality literature over the summer. The program selects books that will engage and interest teens, representing a variety of genres and perspectives. While books may involve mature topics, the program also notes that not every book will appeal to every student. Guidelines are provided for nominating and selecting books, with the expectation that students will read at least two titles and complete a book report for each.
The document outlines the summer reading and assignments for an Advanced Placement English III course. Students are instructed to read widely over the summer, including two assigned novels and a book on how to read literature. They must complete flashcards on literary terms, summarize chapters of the instructional book, annotate one novel, and participate in online discussions of the other novel. Completing the assignments is important as they will count significantly towards the students' first grading period.
Kaylin McFarren is an author who minored in English in college and has led PR/marketing efforts for companies. She resides in Oregon and has been writing her whole life. Her latest book, Buried Threads, is erotic romantic suspense set in Japan involving lost treasure and dual love stories. Her inspiration was a Buddhist monk with gift of prophecy. She has a writing schedule but also writes late at night if inspired. She defines success as receiving fan mail appreciating her work. Her websites where readers can find more about her work are listed.
The document outlines a workshop on organizing libraries, discussing key library concepts, how children's and teen sections are organized using principles like uniformity and consistency, and Dewey Decimal Classification, and provides activities for participants like book swapping and making their own books if materials are limited. The workshop aims to teach librarians back to basics in organizing physical and online library collections for different age groups.
This document summarizes a presentation about books and reading. It discusses how reading is an interactive process between the author, text, and reader. It provides examples of positive and negative feedback on books from parents and reviews. It also summarizes the novel "Here Lies the Librarian" and discusses how the main character Irene Ridpath impacted the community and a boy named Pewee through promoting reading.
This document provides an overview of lesson plans and activities for a literature unit. It includes instructions for students to read passages from books, answer questions about characters' decisions, discuss vocabulary, and play childhood games. Students are asked to write about their first reading experiences and memories of games from their childhood. The document also lists learning objectives like recognizing an author's purpose and using reading strategies to evaluate characters.
Librarians at Irving ISD schools provide booktalks and recommendations to students in various innovative ways to promote reading. They booktalk to classes weekly, make slide presentations and bookmarks, create book trailers and podcasts, and encourage other staff and students to recommend books. Over 8,500 booktalking sessions were conducted by librarians this year. Booktalks are done both traditionally and using new technologies like QR codes and online reviews. Staff across the district support booktalks through morning announcements and displays of what they and their students are reading.
The best christmas pageant ever powerpoint 4kswitzer
The document provides reading and activity instructions for students reading the book "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. The story is about the unruly Herdman kids who take over the church Christmas pageant. Students will read chapters of the book, answer comprehension questions, do vocabulary work, compare themselves to a Herdman kid, and write a bio poem about one of the characters. They can also explore the author's background, compare the script to the story, and design a program for the pageant production. The document guides students through the entire process of reading and interacting with the book.
Presentation on book reviewing for the Virginia Assoc. of School Librarians, October 21, 2016. Includes discussion of controversial reviews and reactions to A TRIBE OF KIDS by Lane Smith.
This document provides a summary of notable books for promoting global awareness and 21st century learning skills. It discusses how using quality global literature can help students explore literary elements, diversity and common humanity, develop critical thinking skills, and make connections between literature and activism. Several book recommendations are provided across different genres including picture books, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Each book highlighted portrays other cultures authentically and promotes reflection on societal and global issues.
The author wants to study English to deepen their understanding and appreciation of language. They believe stories have the power to inspire change and want to use writing to give voice to oppressed groups. The structure of language fascinates them and they hope to share their knowledge with others, such as ESL professionals. Ultimately, the author dreams of becoming a children's author to help kids in difficult situations feel empowered, as reading did for them as a child. They are eager to learn from college professors and explore more challenging literature with expert guidance.
Miss Tauheed's favorite book is "Crick Crack Monkey" by Merle Hodge. It tells the story of a young Caribbean girl named Tee struggling to get an education despite facing racism, bullying, and injustice. The moving novel inspired Miss Tauheed to become a teacher by showing Tee's determination to achieve her goals despite the challenges.
This document summarizes a children's book called "Maisy Goes Camping". It notes that the book is targeted toward young elementary school students. It has large cartoon pictures of animals on each page and very few words. The story follows Maisy as she dreams of going camping with her animal friends. They struggle to put up their tent but eventually work together to complete the job. The summary evaluates that the book teaches about teamwork and accomplishing tasks through cooperation.
The document summarizes the activities and assignments from Mrs. Navejar's English 10 class for the week of October 15, 2007. They read excerpts from the book "My Left Foot" and watched the movie adaptation. Students created a reader's log and answered analysis questions about the excerpt. They also read and discussed the short story "A Visit to Grandmother's" and poems by Robert Frost and analyzed themes, tone, and literary elements. The week concluded with assignments to continue their reader's logs, practice spelling and grammar lessons, and participate in a "think aloud" reading activity.
This document provides guidance on how to do book reviews and book talks for adolescent literature that includes deaf or hard of hearing characters. It recommends choosing books with broad appeal, considering how diverse characters are portrayed, and understanding the difference between reviews and talks. Research findings show hearing authors presented deafness in a more cultural way while deaf authors included more pathological perspectives. The document also provides tips on book selection and presentation for book talks.
This double page spread from We Love Pop magazine features articles about Zayn and Harry from One Direction. Both articles discuss the boys' experiences in school and include large photos of them. Zayn's article is about how he felt like he didn't fit in, while Harry's discusses putting his girlfriend before his grades. The spread uses similar fonts, colors, and layout to link the two articles and maintain the magazine's brand identity.
This document provides guidance for teachers on motivating students to read through the TARGET framework: Trust, Access, Response, Guidance, Engagement, and Talk. It discusses establishing trust with recommended authors, providing access to books through various formats and genres, eliciting personal and critical responses, guiding students up the "reading ladder" through scaffolded experiences, engaging students using Cambourne's conditions for learning, and creating opportunities for book talks. Research findings on student motivations are presented, as are strategies like choice, differentiation, and complex yet accessible texts.
Khaled Hosseini graduated from Santa Clara University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The following year, he entered medical school at the University of California, San Diego. While practicing medicine, Hosseini began writing his debut novel, The Kite Runner, in March 2001. Published in 2003, The Kite Runner became an international bestseller published in 70 countries. The novel is set in Kabul, Afghanistan and California between 1975 and 2001 and follows the story of Amir and Hassan.
Libr271 a sambrano_assignment2_spring2011peepadeeps
The document summarizes the author's personal journey with reading from elementary school through high school and into the present. As a child, the author enjoyed library field trips but could not check out books. In middle school, the author discovered the library and began reading various genres, helped by a teacher's read-alouds. In high school, the author was able to check out books and enjoyed assignments that allowed choosing various titles. The author reflects on how school experiences enriched their mind with literature and led to a lifelong love of reading.
The document provides information about the HGHS Summer Read program which aims to encourage teenage students to read quality literature over the summer. The program selects books that will engage and interest teens, representing a variety of genres and perspectives. While books may involve mature topics, the program also notes that not every book will appeal to every student. Guidelines are provided for nominating and selecting books, with the expectation that students will read at least two titles and complete a book report for each.
The document outlines the summer reading and assignments for an Advanced Placement English III course. Students are instructed to read widely over the summer, including two assigned novels and a book on how to read literature. They must complete flashcards on literary terms, summarize chapters of the instructional book, annotate one novel, and participate in online discussions of the other novel. Completing the assignments is important as they will count significantly towards the students' first grading period.
1. Happy National Grammar Day!
By Guest Blogger on March 4th, 2013
Im reading this book now and
im in fifth grade do u know if
that was the only book to the
series of JUST AS LONG AS
WE ARE TOGETHER...
Bella on Book Pull: Just as Long
as We’re Together by Judy
Blume
Summary:chuck the evil
sandwich making guy was
almost about to be free to go
from jail, but he had to go to
the bobsperds to stay till four
a clock...
Zakeria on WordGirl’s (M)Arch
Enemy Week!
I watched wordgirl march
enemy week to learn more
go on pbskids.org Thank you!
Zakeria on WordGirl’s (M)Arch
Enemy Week!
Guidelines
Giveaways
Contact Us
The Minds
It's
reade
reading
It’s National Grammar Day! To
celebrate we have a very
special blog post from CM
Reedy, a former English
teacher and current intern in
the Trade Publicity
Department here at
Scholastic. Take it away,
Reedy!
Today marks National Grammar Day, a day that brings to mind my experiences as an
English teacher. Trying to teach English to young students can be difficult, but getting them
to understand grammar can be even worse. As a teacher, I often looked for ways to trick my
students into learning. Candy proved an excellent motivator, but my students’ enthusiasm
only lasted as long as the sugar. The key to long-lasting learning, I discovered, is getting the
kids interested. This National Grammar Day, Scholastic has a selection of books
guaranteed to engage young readers’ minds and turn them into budding grammatists!
From author/illustrator team Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
comes Exclamation Mark (March 2013, ages 4 to 8), a tale of self-discovery. This
illustrated book follows the journey of an exclamation point, hoping to find a way to make his
mark. While this story teaches an important lesson about self-expression, it also shows the
proper use of punctuation marks with bold graphics. The book has already earned three
starred reviews and School Library Journal called a “must have.”
Home Books Education More News
2. Previously On Our Minds...
Art in Writing: Alaya Dawn Johnson talks about The Summer Prince
A recap of World Read Aloud Day
A new look for the Underland Chronicles!
“Ways to Live Forever” gets ready for the big screen…but first, it goes digital!
The minds of On Our Minds say thanks!
Comments
Bree Abel says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:31 pm
art authors awards behind the scenes
Bookprint books Clifford common core
discussion ebooks education
educational technology events giveaways
graphic novels guest blogger Harry Potter
holidays Hunger Games in our feeds
inside Scholastic internet in the news
just for fun kid reporters learning
libraries math movies news parenting
Picture Books Read Every Day reading
research Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Scholastic Kids Press Corps
Scholastic Media schools science
social media student engagement
Summer Challenge teachers teaching
technology teens The 39 Clues
The Baby-sitters Club The Scholastic Store
video webcast writing YA
You Are What You Read
Select Month
If you’re searching for a book that packs some serious
syntactical punch, look no further than Super Grammar, by
Tony Preciado and Rhode Montijo (September 2012, ages 7 to
10). Superheroes and supervillains illustrate the DOs and
DON’Ts of grammar in a full-color guide that reads like a comic
book. Inside, readers will find an impressive array of grammar
rules, including the power of pronouns and how to avoid double
negatives. This book proves that bad grammar is a crime. Click
here to view a Super Grammar poster!
There’s also Miss Pell Never Misspells (January 2013, ages 10 to 14), by Steve Martin.
This title serves as a guide that teaches tips and tricks for learning not only grammar, but
trivia across all school subjects! What’s the difference between a clause and a phrase?
What is a “memory palace” and how can it help readers remember important information?
This book contains the answers to these questions and so much more! Itching to become a
spelling whiz? Remember how to spell “broccoli” with a clever sentence: My BROther Can’t
Chew Or Lick It!
To celebrate National Grammar Day we’re doing a giveaway! Let us know your favorite
grammar tips and tricks below to be entered to win a super-awesome Super Grammar pack!
GIVEAWAY RULES: Enter the Nation Grammar Day giveaway for a chance to win a to win
a Super Grammar prize pack. To enter, post your grammar tips and tricks in the comments
below before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time that on March 5, 2013. One winner will be
randomly selected from eligible entries. Read the official rules here. (Giveaway open to
U.S. residents only; must be 18 or older to enter.)
UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed! Congrats to Maria, who was randomly selected to
win! Thanks for participating, everyone.
Posted: March 4th, 2013 under Books, Education, More News. Tags: books, holiday,
just for fun.
54 comments
As an adult I have several favorite grammar books, including Constance
Hale’s Sin & Syntax. It’s wonderful to see so many grammar books for
younger readers and writers!
3. Sarah B says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Holly H says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Amy S says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Heather C says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Lori Brown says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Julie R says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Linda M says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 4:55 pm
To this day I still use “it is more important to know what it is than what it
has” when writing “it’s / its”
I love the book Eats, shoots and leaves…the one for adults and the one for
kids. I don’t know that I have a favorite grammar rule but I know that my 5
year old is having a hard time with the odd spelling issues already (does it
start with a c or a k?) So I’m sure the grammar rules are right around the
corner!
“I before e except after c.” It amazes me to this day how many people don’t
remember this, especially adults!
I am a total word nerd, and love that my 5-year-old is right there with me.
I like the “he vs. him” trick for deciding whether to use “who” or “whom”.
always remember the proper use of your, you’re and it’s and its…. it seems
that contractions are going by the wayside
I have so many favorites! I before e except after c. A lot ….not alot!
RAVEN: Remember Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun! I teach this to my
older elementary students!!
4. Tony Noland says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Maia says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Maria says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:01 pm
ms. Delgado says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Melanie says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Monica says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:06 pm
I’ll do more than leave a comment – I’ll leave a link to a poem (which
appeared on my blog): Ode to the Semicolon
You’re means You Are! Your is possessive!
Last, but not least, knock off the cliches
Greetings from Puerto Rico:
Do you include Puerto Rico in the US residents? We are citizens,
nevertheless some companies do not consider us USA citizens,,,,BUT we
do pay taxes, use US money and most important do serve the ARMY,
NAVY, etc…
Have a nice day!!!!
I’ve got a few:
I like to receive compliments (not to be confused with complements). A
complement completes!
How to remember which Frances/Francis is female/male? Remember the
E in her for the female name; remember the I in his for the male version.
The princiPAL of your school should be a friend (or a friendly person–if you
don’t want to get too close!).
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’d like to have two deSSerts (remember the
two s’s to not confuse it with deserts).
Prepositions take objects, not subjects!
5. Christy says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:10 pm
juliloquy says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Gina says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Erin Brenner says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Candra says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Mary C says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Adding an apostrophe s to a name indicates ownership, adding an just an s
to the end makes it plural. i.e. You say Merry Christmas from the Kings
without an apostrophe to indicate is is from the whole family; if you say
Merry Christmas from the King’s you need to add who or what of the King’s
is wishing you a Merry Christmas or it is an incomplete sentence.
Not really a tip, but the best way for parents to teach correct grammar is by
example. If they are immersed in proper usage and read a lot of books,
kids’ sense of grammar will be automatic.
Also, when in doubt, look it up.
There is no such word as, “alot”.
I have two grammar tricks. First, I let my ear be my guide. We
unconsciously know grammar rules; I try to trust my native English
speaker’s ear. Second, when it sounds wrong, I look it up! A good
dictionary, like American Heritage; a usage guide, like Merriam-Webster’s
Dictionary of English Usage; or a copyediting training book, like The
Copyeditor’s Handbook, are excellent resources.
If you are unsure, say it out loud WITHOUT contractions, then take out the
appropriate letters, i.e. “could have” becomes “could’ve”, NOT “could of”.
“most important” (not “most importantLY”)
6. Michelle says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Lissa Probus says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Gary McCormick says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Terry says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Holly A. says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Heather says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Bryan D says...
I like using Mad Libs with my kids for grammar. It can be really fun to have
them create their own for their friends to do!
When in doubt, leave the contraction out.
My bets grammar tip is “Read, read, read!” Read good writing and proper
usage will soak in without the need to memorize rules. When questions
arise, consult guide books, but start from a firm base of ingrained
understanding based on reading.
One that I still use a lot is knowing when to use a comma when joining two
complete sentences: FAN BOYS (for, and, not, but, or, yet, so). If either
part being joined is not a complete sentence (i.e. a phrase or a clause),
then you don’t use a comma.
It’s spelled “restaurant,” not “restauraunt” or “restaraunt,” which you can
remember because it has the word “ant” at the end, and ants like to hang
out at restaurants.
My favourite grammar tip: Proof read. That’ll catch many simple errors,
such as the one in your own article’s final paragraph, “Enter the Nation
Grammar Day giveaway for a chance to win a to win a Super Grammar
prize pack”.
A couple of people have mentioned “I before E, except after C”. As rules
go, this one is pretty weak! For proof, just ask your ‘feisty foreign neighbor
to seize their weird vein!’ If you want more examples, species and science
7. Comment on March 4, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Don from Delaware says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Don from Delaware says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Karol Westbrook says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Victoria says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Amie says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Nicole says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 10:04 pm
G Coco says...
should be sufficient!
A useful erecise is taking an age-appropriate section of the news paper
and going hunting for the first grammar error. One tip – local papers are
generally easier. Younger players can be given points for finding likely
suspects (“is that the right word?”)
Oh my – did a young reader catch my spelling error? I should know better
than writing on the train!
A lot is not a four letter word. Easy. Right?
The Alot Monster on Hyperbole and a Half has taught all of my students to
never write a lot as one word!
A coworker and I have “Grammaropolis” where we pretend we are in a
grammar town. We have songs each lesson, the grammaropolis games,
and constant high engagement to earn grammaropolis medals. The best
part – almost no worksheets!!
The word “weird” is spelled weirdly because it’s an exception to the rule of
“‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c.’”
I love superlatives. Do you know of any good books for kids teaching
8. Comment on March 4, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Ashley Beauchamp says...
Comment on March 4, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Dylan says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 12:29 am
Sherry says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 7:29 am
Sherry says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 7:32 am
Imperfect but trying… says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 7:37 am
Stemydius says...
superlatives?
I taught English overseas about two years ago and learning a second
language isn’t always fun for a child—especially English grammar. I would
teach the grammar rule first, then play a game to allow them to practice the
grammar rule. I used board games, songs, music, role playing, and much
more; whatever I could find that would be interesting and also educational.
Table charts and diagrams were also very effective in helping to teach the
grammar rules.
Most difficult lesson: Gerunds vs. Infinitives!
This is an awesome article. With each excerpt, I was drawn in and found
myself thinking about grammar nuances that I could remember. It amazes
me what we have learned since our early years of school. More so what we
have chosen to never forget.
When trying to remember if friend is ei or ie, remember, a Friend is a friend
to the end.
To remember how to spell tomorrow, break it into three complete words,
tom or row.
If choosing between “he and I” and “me and him” say the sentence without
the he or him and use the one that makes sense.
He and I went to the store / I went to the store (correct)
Me and him went to the store / Me went to the store (incorrect)
I give my students extra credit whenever they catch me making an error or
9. Comment on March 5, 2013 at 7:47 am
Carol says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 8:18 am
Sonja says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 9:38 am
Sonja says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 9:39 am
Jenny says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 9:39 am
Mindi Shelow says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 10:01 am
Melanie says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 10:36 am
Jennifer says...
typo on the board, or on a test, or in my discussion. They love being
“grammar police.”
I don’t have any grammar rules that haven’t been mentioned. I remember
more spelling rules than grammar.
I love the Words are Categorical Series (A Mink, A Fink A Skating Rink:
What is a Noun?)
I forgot the .
It’s and Its/ Your and You’re are pet peeves of mine. I’m also a sucker for
using good/ well correctly… and probably people think I sound pretentious
because of it Oh well!
If you’re not sure whether to use “I” or “me” take away the other part and
see if it makes sense. Jon and I went to the store. Jon and me (or me and
Jon) went to the store. I went to the store./Me went to the store.
To tell the difference between a simile and a metaphor : simile: the L is for
like. You just have to remember that like or as go together. They are
friends in this case. Metaphors don’t have like or as.
10. Comment on March 5, 2013 at 11:22 am
Darsh says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Wylie Jones says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Sarah J. says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Sarah J. says...
Comment on March 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm
casey says...
I enjoy teaching the difference between “me” and “I”. Choose between me
and I by removing the other person from the sentence and then picking the
one that doesn’t sound silly. For example, My friend and I walked to the
park.
My grammar trick is to continually consult the book “Eats, Shoots &
Leaves”; however, in terms of grammar tips I do quite enjoy “How to know
when to use Who/Whom”:
‘Like “whom,” the pronoun “him” ends with “m.” When you’re trying to
decide whether to use “who” or “whom,” ask yourself if the answer to the
question would be “he” or “him.” If the answer is “he”, utilize “who”; if “him”,
utilize “whom.”
Et voila, a simple substitution and you’re on your way to a classy and
grammatically correct sentence
“Don’t Jest Bee Kumputor Littterate.” N.Wylie Jones
http://www.knowords.com. Remember, “Technology Is Plumbing For the
Water Of Words And Ideas.” When looking for scams in the world of
technology they always mention look for grammar mistakes and
missssspellings. Works for me. English teachers never die; we just turn
into a metaphor or perhaps an anecdote. I was one for 30 years and miss
my students every day.
Oh, I would love this! One of my favorite grammar tips is that dessert has
two s’s, because you always want two helpings of dessert! Dessert/desert
are often used incorrectly, so I hope this helps someone out
@Darsh, that book is hilarious! So funny and full of great information.
tHERE — the opposite of HERE
hEAR — what you do with your EAR
11. Comment on March 5, 2013 at 7:18 pm
Margaret says...
Comment on March 6, 2013 at 6:30 am
Laura says...
Comment on March 6, 2013 at 4:31 pm
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What color is Clifford the Big Red Dog? (required) Why ask?
Spelling rule: their, there, they’re all start with the. There is not HERE. The
possessive their has I in it.
I tell my middle school students that we study compound, complex and
compound-complex sentences because they have complex thoughts, and
they need a sentence structure that expresses their complex thoughts! My
young ladies and gentlemen are huge fans of the FANBOYS (For, And,
Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)!
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