If I were the queen of grammar instruction...

Nobody:

Me: If I were the queen of grammar instruction...

I love those memes! But also, that's kind of my take on this week's post. In thinking about those powerful opening 30 minutes of our class period, I spent extra time with my copy of Grammar Keepers and thought about the most powerful grammar skills for solid student writing. I looked through STAAR tested grammar and revision skills from past assessments and the current practice sessions that are online to comb through what's been tested. I also thought about those cringe-worthy mistakes even adults make and set out to develop a sequence of most essential skills. So here you have it...

If I were the queen of grammar instruction, theses are the lessons I would teach each year. 

Grammar Skill Sequence

This provides a grammar focus for 32 instructional weeks. I know a school year is 36 weeks, but this gives you wiggle room for assessment windows, weather delays, and the like. It also is one skill per week. Feel free to speed up the pacing to meet your needs. I absolutely have presented these skills one per day, and if you want to implement what you can this semester, you can too. When possible, I linked the lesson to a Curly resource or strategy to further cement the learning.

I really would reinforce these skills each year- whether I'm teaching 4th grade, 7th grade, or 9th grade. Students are transient, but also, our kids are not showing consistent mastery of these skills. And they really, really have to in order to be college-ready life-ready. I know the grammar on social media feeds I see could really use some targeted instruction. :)

You might have noticed that this skill sequence is very dependent on Gretchen Bernabei's Grammar Keepers. Every lesson (except for one) is linked to one or more of the GK lessons. Don't have a copy? I'm giving one away! To be entered to win, tag your teaching besties on this post (It will have the same Yoda meme.) on Facebook or Instagram. One lucky winner will be selected and announced on the February 22nd post. Good luck, and it's good to be queen!