Category · 414 articles
Grammar & Mechanics
How to Teach Proofreading Strategies
Writers make errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, proper use of quotes, paragraphs, usage, and word choice for a variety of reasons. Effective proofreading strategies can…
Why Daily Oral Language (D.O.L.) Doesn’t Work
Daily Oral Language is the most popular instructional technique for teaching grammar and mechanics? But is it effective? No. The article lists 16 reasons why D.O.L.…
Spelling Lists and Tests
Teachers who are serious about effective spelling instruction use the spelling pre-test as a diagnostic assessment to differentiate instruction. In this article, teachers will learn how…
Top 40 Grammar Pet Peeves
Here is the list of the Top 40 Grammar Pet Peeves that irritate most Americans. Learn what's wrong, what's write, and the tips to avoid these…
Process vs. On Demand Writing
The advent of timed writings on high stakes tests, such as the new SAT 1, high school exit exams, and standards-based writing assessments, has placed teachers…
Should We Teach Standards or Children?
The excesses of the standards-based movement frequently run contrary to the need to differentiate instruction, according to the diagnostic needs of children.
Ten Tips to Improving Writing Coherency
Writing coherency refers to how well sentences and paragraphs are organized into an understandable whole. Good writing coherency is reader-centered. From the reader’s point of view,…
How to Eliminate “To Be” Verbs in Writing
Every English teacher has a sure-fire revision tip that makes developing writers dig down deep and revise initial drafts. One of my favorites involves eliminating the…