Pennington Publishing Blog

Long Superlative Modifiers

Long Superlative Modifiers           

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

Remember that the Latin prefix super means “above” or “beyond.” Superlative means the best or most. Long superlative modifiers are formed differently than short superlative modifiers.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on long superlative modifiers. Remember that a modifier is an adjective or adverb that limits the meaning of a word or words. Also remember that a comparative modifier compares two things and a superlative modifier compares three or more things. Use the suffix “_est” for a one-syllable modifier to compare three or more things.

Now let’s read the grammar and mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Use “_est,” most, or least for a two-syllable or longer superlative modifier to compare three or more things. The superlative modifier indicates which is the most or least. When to use “_est” and when to use most or least is simply a matter of usage.  Examples: mightiest, most interesting

Always use most or least for adverbs ending in “__ly.” Example: She waited least patiently.

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and mechanics lesson.

Practice: Compared to the other two artists, Linda was the most happy, but she also had the least financial sense. Of the three artist friends, Linda did work the most conscientiously.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Compared to the other two artists, Linda was the happiest, but she also had the least financial sense. Of the three artist friends, Linda did work the most conscientiously.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentences using an “_est” and a most or least superlative modifier.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing comparative modifier, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, pennington publishing, superlative modifier, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Punctuation of Short Story and Document Titles

Punctuation of Short Story and Document Titles   

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.      

Common Core Language Standard 2

Punctuation of short stories and document titles includes proper capitalization and quotation marks.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to punctuate short story and document titles.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Place quotation marks before and after the titles of short stories and documents. Short stories and documents are parts of whole things, small things, or things that can’t be picked up from a table. A document is a written record that provides official information or evidence.

Examples: “The Most Dangerous Game” “Your Rights as a Consumer”

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: Her short story was titled “Into My Arms.” The main character finds the lost document titled “Birth Certificate of Tim Martin.”

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Her short story was titled “Into My Arms.” The main character finds the lost document titled “Birth Certificate of Tim Martin.”

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using the title of a short story and a document title.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing document punctuation, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, pennington publishing, short story punctuation, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Short Superlative Modifiers

Short Superlative Modifiers       

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.       

Common Core Language Standard 1

When we say “super,” we usually mean “great.” For example, “How was the food?” “Super.” Originally, the Latin prefix super meant “above” or “beyond.” Superlative means the best or most. Short superlative modifiers are formed differently than long superlative modifiers.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on short superlative modifiers. Remember that a modifier is an adjective or adverb that limits the meaning of a word or words. A comparative modifier compares two things, using the suffix “_er” for one-syllable modifier, more (less) or “_er” for a two-syllable modifier, and more or less for three-syllable (or longer) adjective modifiers and all adverbs ending in “__ly.”

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

Use the suffix “_est” for a one-syllable superlative modifier to compare three or more things. The superlative modifier indicates which is the most or least. Example: greatest

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: Of the three swimmers, Jonna was most best, Rose was second best, while Yolanda had the least amount of skill.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Of the three swimmers, Jonna was best, Rose was second best, while Yolanda had the least amount of skill.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a one-syllable superlative modifier to compare three or more things.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing comparative modifiers, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, modifiers, pennington publishing, short superlative modifiers, superlative modifiers, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Article Titles

Punctuation of Article Titles                                                       

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 2

Articles appear in many forms of media. Blogs, magazines (both print and online), encyclopedias, newspapers, and journals all have articles.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to punctuate article titles. Remember that we underline or italicize the titles of newspapers, magazines, and website titles.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Place quotation marks before and after the titles of articles. Articles are parts of whole things, small things, or things that can’t be picked up from a table. An article is a short written work such as a newspaper article, magazine article, or blog article that is part of the larger publication. Example: “The President’s Greatest Challenge”

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: She went to the store to buy the Popstar! magazine, so she could read the article titled “Don’t Marry in Hollywood.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: She went to the store to buy the Popstar! magazine, so she could read the article titled “Don’t Marry in Hollywood.”

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using the title of a newspaper and a newspaper article.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing article titles, articles, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, mechanics, pennington publishing, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Long Comparative Modifiers

Long Comparative Modifiers         

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

Since comparative modifier involves just two comparisons, we never use most or least as part of the modifier. With long comparative modifiers many writers make this mistake and write something like “Between the red and green salsas the red is the most delicious.” So let’s avoid this common error and learn why we would need to write “Between the red and green salsas the red is the more delicious.”

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on long comparative modifiers. Remember a modifier is an adjective or adverb that limits the meaning of a word or words. Use the suffix “_er” for a one-syllable modifier to compare two things. Use “_er” or more (less) for a two-syllable modifier to compare two things.

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

A long comparative modifier uses more or less for three-syllable (or longer) adjective modifiers and for all adverbs ending in “__ly” to compare two things. Example: more humorous, less surprisingly

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: Maggie was more attractiver than Frances, but Maggie was less interesting.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Maggie was more attractive than Frances, but Maggie was less interesting.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a long comparative modifier.

This writing opener is part of a comprehensive language conventions lesson from the Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary   Grades 4‒8 programs.

*****

Teaching Grammar and Mechanics Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School Programs

I’m Mark Pennington, author of the full-year interactive grammar notebooks,  grammar literacy centers, and the traditional grade-level 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and high school Teaching Grammar and Mechanics programs. Teaching Grammar and Mechanics includes 56 (64 for high school) interactive language conventions lessons,  designed for twice-per-week direct instruction in the grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics standards. The scripted lessons (perfect for the grammatically-challenged teacher) are formatted for classroom display. Standards review, definitions and examples, practice and error analysis, simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts with writing applications, and formative assessments are woven into every 25-minute lesson. The program also includes the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments with corresponding worksheets to help students catch up, while they keep up with grade-level, standards-aligned instruction.

Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Programs

Or why not get the value-priced Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary (Teaching the Language Strand) grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 BUNDLES? These grade-level programs include both teacher’s guide and student workbooks and are designed to help you teach all the Common Core Anchor Standards for Language. In addition to the Teaching Grammar and Mechanics program, each BUNDLE provides weekly spelling pattern tests and accompanying spelling sort worksheets (L.2), 56 language application opener worksheets (L.3), and 56 vocabulary worksheets with multiple-meaning words, Greek and Latin word parts, figures of speech, word relationships with context clue practice, connotations, and four square academic language practice (L.4, 5, and 6). Comprehensive biweekly unit tests measure recognition, understanding, and application of the grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary components.

The program also has the resources to meet the needs of diverse learners. Diagnostic grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling assessments provide the data to enable teachers to individualize instruction with targeted worksheets. Each remedial worksheet (over 200 per program) includes independent practice and a brief formative assessment.

Check out the brief introductory video and enter DISCOUNT CODE 3716 at check-out for 10% off this value-priced program. We do sell print versions of the teacher’s guide and student workbooks. Contact mark@penningtonpublishing.com for pricing. Read what teachers are saying about this comprehensive program:

The most comprehensive and easy to teach grammar, mechanics, spelling, and vocabulary program. I’m teaching all of the grade-level standards and remediating previous grade-level standards. The no-prep and minimal correction design of this program really respects a teacher’s time. At last, I’m teaching an integrated program–not a hodge-podge collection of DOL grammar, spelling and vocabulary lists, and assorted worksheets. I see measurable progress with both my grade-level and intervention students. BTW… I love the scripted lessons!

─Julie Villenueve

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing comparative modifiers, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, long comparative modifiers, Mark Pennington, mechanics, modifiers, pennington publishing, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Punctuation of Book Chapter Titles

Punctuation of Book Chapter Titles                       

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 2

Authors use book chapter titles for a variety of purposes. In a textbook the chapter title usually deals with the main topic of that chapter. In a story the book chapter title may be descriptive about what will take place in that chapter, such as with J. K. Rowling’s “The Goblin’s Revenge” from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or something that makes you want to keep reading, such as with “A Surprising Ghost” in Lynne Reid Banks’ The Key to the Indian.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to punctuate book chapter titles. Remember that we underline or italicize the titles of books.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Place quotation marks before and after the titles of book chapters. Book chapter titles are parts of whole things, small things, or things that can’t be picked up from a table. Example: “Last Time”

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: I just read the last chapter in the book titled “A Fitting End.” The first chapter was titled A Fitting Beginning.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: I just read the last chapter in the book titled “A Fitting End.” The first chapter was titled “A Fitting Beginning.”

Now let’s apply what we’ve learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a book title and a book chapter title.

This writing opener is part of a comprehensive language conventions lesson from the Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary   Grades 4‒8 programs.

*****

Teaching Grammar and Mechanics Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School Programs

I’m Mark Pennington, author of the full-year interactive grammar notebooks,  grammar literacy centers, and the traditional grade-level 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and high school Teaching Grammar and Mechanics programs. Teaching Grammar and Mechanics includes 56 (64 for high school) interactive language conventions lessons,  designed for twice-per-week direct instruction in the grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics standards. The scripted lessons (perfect for the grammatically-challenged teacher) are formatted for classroom display. Standards review, definitions and examples, practice and error analysis, simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts with writing applications, and formative assessments are woven into every 25-minute lesson. The program also includes the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments with corresponding worksheets to help students catch up, while they keep up with grade-level, standards-aligned instruction.

Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Programs

Or why not get the value-priced Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary (Teaching the Language Strand) grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 BUNDLES? These grade-level programs include both teacher’s guide and student workbooks and are designed to help you teach all the Common Core Anchor Standards for Language. In addition to the Teaching Grammar and Mechanics program, each BUNDLE provides weekly spelling pattern tests and accompanying spelling sort worksheets (L.2), 56 language application opener worksheets (L.3), and 56 vocabulary worksheets with multiple-meaning words, Greek and Latin word parts, figures of speech, word relationships with context clue practice, connotations, and four square academic language practice (L.4, 5, and 6). Comprehensive biweekly unit tests measure recognition, understanding, and application of the grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary components.

The program also has the resources to meet the needs of diverse learners. Diagnostic grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling assessments provide the data to enable teachers to individualize instruction with targeted worksheets. Each remedial worksheet (over 200 per program) includes independent practice and a brief formative assessment.

Check out the brief introductory video and enter DISCOUNT CODE 3716 at check-out for 10% off this value-priced program. We do sell print versions of the teacher’s guide and student workbooks. Contact mark@penningtonpublishing.com for pricing. Read what teachers are saying about this comprehensive program:

The most comprehensive and easy to teach grammar, mechanics, spelling, and vocabulary program. I’m teaching all of the grade-level standards and remediating previous grade-level standards. The no-prep and minimal correction design of this program really respects a teacher’s time. At last, I’m teaching an integrated program–not a hodge-podge collection of DOL grammar, spelling and vocabulary lists, and assorted worksheets. I see measurable progress with both my grade-level and intervention students. BTW… I love the scripted lessons!

─Julie Villenueve

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing book chapter titles, book chapters, chapter titles, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, mechanics, pennington publishing, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Short Comparative Modifiers

Short Comparative Modifiers               

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

A comparison means to find the similarities or differences between two or more things. Sometimes we use the word contrast to find just the differences, so teachers may say “Compare and contrast these two plots,” but the word compare can mean what’s the same and what’s different, so “Compare these two plots” really means to do the same task. When we use the term comparative modifier, we mean comparing only two nouns or verbs. We use superlative modifier when comparing three or more nouns or verbs.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on short comparative modifiers. Remember that an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun and answers Which one? How many? or What kind? An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb and answers What degree? How? Where? or When?

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

A modifier is an adjective or adverb that limits the meaning of a word or words. Use the suffix “_er” for a one-syllable modifier to compare two things. Example: fewer than five

Use “_er” or more (less) for a two-syllable modifier to compare two things. Example: prettier, more often

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: Mike appears more smart than Ken, but Mike is really just more careful with his work.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Mike appears smarter than Ken, but Mike is really just more careful with his work.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using both an “_er” and a more (less) comparative adjective.

This writing opener is part of a comprehensive language conventions lesson from the Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary   Grades 4‒8 programs.

*****

Teaching Grammar and Mechanics Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School Programs

I’m Mark Pennington, author of the full-year interactive grammar notebooks,  grammar literacy centers, and the traditional grade-level 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and high school Teaching Grammar and Mechanics programs. Teaching Grammar and Mechanics includes 56 (64 for high school) interactive language conventions lessons,  designed for twice-per-week direct instruction in the grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics standards. The scripted lessons (perfect for the grammatically-challenged teacher) are formatted for classroom display. Standards review, definitions and examples, practice and error analysis, simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts with writing applications, and formative assessments are woven into every 25-minute lesson. The program also includes the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments with corresponding worksheets to help students catch up, while they keep up with grade-level, standards-aligned instruction.

Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Programs

Or why not get the value-priced Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary (Teaching the Language Strand) grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 BUNDLES? These grade-level programs include both teacher’s guide and student workbooks and are designed to help you teach all the Common Core Anchor Standards for Language. In addition to the Teaching Grammar and Mechanics program, each BUNDLE provides weekly spelling pattern tests and accompanying spelling sort worksheets (L.2), 56 language application opener worksheets (L.3), and 56 vocabulary worksheets with multiple-meaning words, Greek and Latin word parts, figures of speech, word relationships with context clue practice, connotations, and four square academic language practice (L.4, 5, and 6). Comprehensive biweekly unit tests measure recognition, understanding, and application of the grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary components.

The program also has the resources to meet the needs of diverse learners. Diagnostic grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling assessments provide the data to enable teachers to individualize instruction with targeted worksheets. Each remedial worksheet (over 200 per program) includes independent practice and a brief formative assessment.

Check out the brief introductory video and enter DISCOUNT CODE 3716 at check-out for 10% off this value-priced program. We do sell print versions of the teacher’s guide and student workbooks. Contact mark@penningtonpublishing.com for pricing. Read what teachers are saying about this comprehensive program:

The most comprehensive and easy to teach grammar, mechanics, spelling, and vocabulary program. I’m teaching all of the grade-level standards and remediating previous grade-level standards. The no-prep and minimal correction design of this program really respects a teacher’s time. At last, I’m teaching an integrated program–not a hodge-podge collection of DOL grammar, spelling and vocabulary lists, and assorted worksheets. I see measurable progress with both my grade-level and intervention students. BTW… I love the scripted lessons!

─Julie Villenueve

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing comparative modifiers, grammar books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions Lessons, Mark Pennington, modifiers, pennington publishing, short comparative modifiers, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Punctuation of Song and Poem Titles

Punctuation of Song and Poem Titles                 

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 2

Punctuating song and poem titles can be a bit confusing. Both songs and poems don’t always fit into our general rules that things which are “short, part of a whole, or can’t be picked up a table” are enclosed within quotation marks and things which are “long, whole things, or can be picked up from a table” are italicized or underlined. After all, some songs and poems can be very long. Some songs and poems are not parts of a whole. You can certainly buy just one song from iTunes. Finally, how do you pick up a download from a table? It’s important to remember that rules all have exceptions.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to punctuate song and poem titles. Remember that any title of a creative work must be punctuated with either italics (underlining if written) or quotations. 

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Place quotation marks before and after the titles of songs and poems. Songs and poems are parts of whole things, small things, or things that can’t be picked up from a table. Examples: “Jingle Bells” “This Little Piggy”

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: The lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” were taken from Francis Scott Key’s poem titled Defence of Fort McHenry.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: The lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” were taken from Francis Scott Key’s poem titled “Defence of Fort McHenry.” Note that defence is the British spelling.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using the title of a song.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

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