Good ole’ grammar standards. Let’s be honest; grammar can be super difficult. It’s a concept that most adults don’t really understand ( you have Facebook, right? ), but it doesn’t have to be. So let’s take a look at some easy steps to introduce grammar into your classroom without the moans and groans.

1. Break Grammar Standards Down

Did you know that middle schoolers have an attention span of 15 minutes? That means you should be switching gears frequently. Keep your mini-lessons down to the basics; if they don’t need to know it for the new standard, don’t bring it up. You don’t need to revisit the parts of speech every time that you introduce a new concept. Keep it short and sweet, and keep their attention.

2. Introduce Grammar with Doodle Notes

 Notes for grammar standards are so important! It gives students a place to refer back to when they are struggling. Notes also add extra support for students when they want to branch out and try a new concept; bam, the notes are there to help guide them along the way!

Have you heard of Doodle Notes? They are absolutely amazing and life-changing. Doodle Notes are notes that have visual memory triggers embedded into them. This helps your students remember the content, and the best part, they absolutely love them!!! They get an opportunity to color or doodle while learning new content. If you are interested in introducing grammar standards using doodle notes you can grab two weeks of free grammar resources here.

3. Grammar Standards Review Activity

It is important to present content to students in multiple ways. After introducing a grammar skill, play a fun review activity.  Middle schoolers love to play games, don’t let them fool you! 

My students know that after we learn a new skill, we will play a grammar game. They go hand and hand. They look forward to it every week. I have a different game or activity for each new grammar standard. Check out the review activities in the two weeks of free grammar resources.

4. Constant Review

When learning something new, it is so important to practice! You know that, and after you introduce a grammar standard is no different. It is important to expose students to the new skill they just learned; you can do this in a couple of different ways: 

1. Mentor sentences- use a sentence that is a perfect example of the newly learned grammar standard. Try to find an example from a shared book you are reading in class.
2. Daily language review- students review the different grammar skills daily. Also included in the two free weeks of grammar resources.
3. Example hunt- students hunt to find examples of grammar skills in books, magazines, or even around the school.

Do a mixture of all three! Whatever works best for your classroom! Again, students need to be exposed to the content differently, so try different strategies to see what works for your class; this might even differ from year to year. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make grammar fun!

Remember I’m rooting for you friend!

-Alisha-