Why Johnny Can’t Use Good Grammar
Some years back, the principal walked into my room while my student teacher was delivering a lesson. After a few minutes, the principal signaled me to step outside. “I would never hire Johnny to work...
View ArticleHow to Teach the Writing Domains (Genres)
Students need to understand the natures and peculiarities of the many different forms of writing. As students are first exposed to the imaginative/narrative domain (genre) of writing via story books,...
View ArticleEssential Study Skills
From a child’s point of view, there are advantages and disadvantages to having a teacher as a parent. The time off over holidays and summer vacations certainly provides plenty of options for family...
View ArticleFree Resources to Teach the Writing Process and Writer’s Workshop
The Writing Process and Writers Workshop are not simply processes by which students explore and refine their writing on their own. The teacher plays an active role in teaching and modeling the writing...
View ArticleFree Writing Style Resources
Writing style is an umbrella term that includes writing rules and conventions, the voice or personality of the writer, how the writer interacts with his or her audience, what the author says, his or...
View ArticleFree Essay Strategies Resources
In my first year of teaching, I assigned a group of eighth grade students what I thought was a rather straight-forward assignment: a five paragraph essay on the causes of the Civil War. I had...
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How to Grade Writing
How can we effectively assess student writing? Should we grade upon effort, completion, standards, achievement, or improvement? Is our primary task to respond or to grade? Here’s my take. We should...
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Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: Convert Nouns and Adjectives into Vivid Verbs Lesson
Eliminate “To Be” Verbs Ah, summertime! After a few weeks of avoiding any thoughts whatsoever about school, I’m now back in planning mode. How I can improve my students’ essays this next school year?...
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Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: Substitute with Stronger Linking Verbs Lesson
Using a “to be” verb is like putting on a BAND-AID®. Simply open up the protective paper; peel back the two plastic sections; and apply over the wound. Quick and easy. However, removing that same...
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Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: How to Revise Was and Were
Both developing student writers as well as professionals struggle with eliminating (or reducing) the overuse of the forms of the “to be” verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been. Any teacher...
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