Teaching Middle School ELA Episode 315: Ideas for Teaching Grammar in the Context of Reading
Dec 17, 2024
Discover how to make grammar lessons exciting by weaving them into the stories students love! Engage your class with mentor sentences that bring concepts alive and embark on grammar scavenger hunts. Dive into the exploration of nonstandard dialects, enriching language appreciation while reinforcing essential grammar skills. Learn creative techniques to connect literature and language, fostering a judgment-free environment where students thrive. Tune in for practical ideas that transform grammar from mundane to magical!
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Episode notes
Effective Use of Mentor Sentences
- Use mentor sentences from texts your students are reading to teach grammar effectively.
- Combine this with direct instruction and guide students to rewrite and mimic sentences to understand grammar and author's purpose.
Mentor Sentences Classroom Experience
- Caitlin shared her negative experience with mentor sentences used without direct instruction in a third-grade classroom.
- This approach confused students and made the activity ineffective and boring for them.
Supporting Students with Mentor Sentences
- Start mentor sentence activities with simple sentences and allow partial rewrite focusing on the targeted grammar.
- Encourage working in pairs and provide scaffolding to support students in their writing.
