Archive
Tag: Mark Pennington
How to Teach ESL Writing
Glossing over the specific needs of developing EL writers and hoping that they will “catch up” in their writing when their oral language and reading abilities…
How to Teach Thesis Statements
The most important part of the multi-paragraph essay is a well-worded thesis statement. The thesis statement should state the author’s purpose for writing or the point…
How to Teach Logic
A basic understanding of logic is necessary to be able to read critically and write with coherence. Good critical thinking follow rules of logic to observe,…
How to Teach Critical Thinking
However, we must begin to practice what we preach. If we are to equip Twenty-First-Century students with the tools they need to add to our “knowledge…
Ten Start-up Tips for New Teachers
New teachers can "make or break" their school year in the very first days and weeks. Here are 10 start-up tips for new teachers that will…
Why We Don’t Teach Grammar
Teachers deemphasize grammar instruction for six key reasons. Learn these reasons and re-prioritize your instruction to include teaching grammar in the context of meaningful writing.
Don’t Read Class Novels
When we teach a novel or short story, how much of our instruction should be teacher-dependent and how much should be teacher-independent? My thought is that…
Context Clues Vocabulary Review Game
This context clues vocabulary review game helps students apply the five major context clues categories to informed word guessing. Using the Pictionary® game, students drawing context…