Lynne Dorfman and Diane Dougherty's new book, Grammar Matters, is for teachers of Kindergarten through 6th grade. It provides lessons as well as grammar references so you can enhance your instruction and get your students excited about learning grammar.
Category: conventions
Does “Published” Need to be “Perfect?”
There's a reason for second and third editions of really great books--a writer's work is never done, and is certainly never, ever perfect.
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More on the Writing Continuum
It's late, but I promised to post more about the writing continuum work in fourth grade. Thankfully one of the fourth grade teachers has already documented the early work on her blog. Click here to know more about the writing continuum we started. Plus, here's a favorite quote of late regarding conventions. "English usage is sometimes more… Continue reading More on the Writing Continuum
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Conventionally Speaking
Just a little list of some things that are on my mind about conventions and teaching conventions and using (or not using) conventions. Conventions are important. Learning to use them in Standard English is even more important. Conventions are power. If you write with conventions, you are more likely to influence others. You should use… Continue reading Conventionally Speaking
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Paragraphs — Part II
I took your wise words and put them together in a chart. It's hanging in my office because I love how it is a reminder of the power of collaboration. It also restores my faith in our ability to teach conventions through writing workshop. I love (and I mean lovelovelove) that no one offered a… Continue reading Paragraphs — Part II
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Paragraphs — Part I
How do you know when to start a new paragraph? Yep, that's all for this post. Do some thinking and then leave an answer in the comments. It's an important question and one that many writers in our classrooms need answered! (For those of you who are over-achievers, ask your students and leave their thoughts… Continue reading Paragraphs — Part I
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Best First Draft
When students move from their notebook to draft, I encourage them to write their best first draft. (Click here to see other posts I've written about best first drafts.) Something that I'm always curious about is the way conventions come into play during all parts of the writing process. As I've been teaching kids to… Continue reading Best First Draft
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How many exclamation points should one use to end a sentence?
I changed the way I used exclamation points as a result of reading Dan Feigelson's Practical Punctuation: Lessons on Rule Making and Rule Breaking in Elementary Writing. Prior to reading Feigelson's book I was guilty of using multiple exclamation points to express enthusiasm on students' papers and my excitement when crafting e-mails to other adults. Tsk… Continue reading How many exclamation points should one use to end a sentence?
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Editing Wonderings
I've been thinking a lot about editing and conventions and writing workshop. My ideas keep twirling around and I'm trying to grab hold, but they don't seem to want to be pinned down quite yet. Or maybe I'm still looking for the thing that interests me the most. What I'm grappling with is the disconnect… Continue reading Editing Wonderings
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Misused Apostrophes
The day I went into labor with my daughter I was transferred from a labor and delivery room to a postpartum patient room back to a labor and delivery room. By the time I returned to the labor & delivery room I had been in labor for over 12 hours. About 14 hours into my… Continue reading Misused Apostrophes
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Punctuating Dialogue
Have you ever noticed how challenging it is for kids to punctuate dialogue correctly? (Let's be honest... there are many adults who have this problem too!) I'm not in favor of utilizing grammar worksheets to teach this to kids since that doesn't get them to really notice how real authors do it. Sure, they can… Continue reading Punctuating Dialogue
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Genre Choice
Going into the last leg of the school year, I'd like to take a minute to encourage you to empower students to chose the genre they are going to write. It is important for students to have the choice of genre throughout the school year. Often Writing Workshops become genre study after genre study. Before… Continue reading Genre Choice
