Covering writing conventions with mentor texts can save teachers time and increase student engagement. Add young adult literature to bring engagement. Teaching Writing Conventions with Mentor Texts Teaching writing conventions…
Posts Taggedmentor sentences
Grammar Should Be “Understanding Language”
Understanding language and moving past grammar lessons: can we make the switch? Teaching language standards provides a new frame for discussing grammar. The more I write about grammar and read…
Mentor Sentences from Classic Literature
You will be able to pull mentor sentences from classic literature once you start looking at literature with language standards in mind. You will own powerful tools for adding deeper…
Short Story Unit Plan with Student Choice
Are you building a short story unit plan with student choice? I never teach the same short story unit twice. I begin standard English classes with short stories which allows…
Mentor Sentences and Interactive Notebook Ideas
Looking to benefit from mentor sentences and interactive notebook activities, perhaps together? My students and I discuss grammar as a natural extension with literature and nonfiction, normally by pulling sentences from…
Connecting Grammar and Literature
‘Connecting Grammar and Literature’ is part six of a ten-part series covering grammar in middle school and high school English classes. Start with part one and follow the links to the…
10 Alternatives to the Grammar Worksheet
‘10 Alternatives to the Grammar Worksheet’ is part four of a ten-part series covering grammar in middle school and high school English classes. Read part one, part two and part three. Update, 2022: After…
ELA Content Includes Grammar
‘ELA Content Includes Grammar’ is part three of a ten-part series covering grammar in middle school and high school English classes. Read part one and part two. All components of ELA…
Grammar Mentor Sentences from Literature
No matter what you call them—grammar mentor sentences, practice sentences, master sentences from literature—using sentences from literature is a powerful tool. Teaching with mentor sentences to meet language and grammar…