Teaching grammar skills can seem daunting, but after many years of trial and error, I have perfected the steps of teaching grammar that will keep my students engaged and excited. Each day’s grammar lesson is 10-15 minutes at most and we focus on the same topic throughout the week to ensure students are fully understanding the grammar skill being discussed.
The Steps to Teaching Grammar Skills
Day #1: Mini-Lesson
The first step in teaching grammar skills is the mini-lesson. This lesson will last 15 minutes at the most. I usually run through a quick PowerPoint with the class where they aren’t just listening to me lecture, but talking to their shoulder partner about the lesson. I like to make my lessons super interactive so that students don’t get bored since grammar isn’t always the most enjoyable topic to learn.
Day #2: Grammar Interactive Notebooks
The second step in teaching grammar skills is using interactive notebooks. I have always been a big fan of interactive notebooks, especially in grammar to make the lessons more engaging for students. Unlike some of the other interactive notebooks I use in my class, these are done in a whole group setting. Depending on how my students are doing with the concept from the day before we will either do the interactive notebook lesson whole group, in partners or individually.
If you’re not sure about how to use interactive notebooks or why to use them, check out this post that I wrote answering all of your interactive notebook questions.
Day #3: Task Cards
The third step in teaching grammar skills is using task cards. My students are always a huge fans of using task cards because it gets them up and moving around the classroom. They get so wrapped up in it that they don’t even realize how much they’re learning! Task cards are a simple activity that I quickly hang up around the classroom or lay on desks.
Students will begin at the card that is closest to them and then move in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. I don’t recommend setting a timer, but instead allowing students to work at their own pace to not make them uncomfortable. Need some grammar task cards? Click here to see some of the ones I’ve created for my students.
Day #4: Writing
The fourth step to teaching grammar skills is writing. When writing to practice grammar, we don’t want students to focus on the content as much as we do the use of the skill. Then students can share their writing with a partner and the class in a meaningful way.
Day #5: Assessment
The final step in teaching grammar skills is assessment. When we assess students on grammar, we want to use question types that our students have previously seen so as to not throw them for a loop. There should be no more than 10 questions not to overwhelm the students, we just want to see what we know from our week of lessons.
Need some premade grammar lessons for your classroom? Click here to see what I’ve got for you!
