The end of the year is looming, and with it comes the urgency to make grammar lessons for middle school students more engaging. Before school ends, though, there are probably some high-stakes assessments for students to take. You might be asking, “How is grammar addressed in standards and evaluated in large-scale assessments?”
Using writing in middle school with focused grammar instruction is the most effective way to help students become better writers as well as learn, apply, and master the conventions of Standard Written English. Proper conventions support clarity of expression, and large-scale assessments often examine sentence structure and variety, word choice, tone and voice, and grammar usage and mechanics.
There are other great ways to end the school year with a focus on grammar and middle school writing. Collaborative writing is a social, meaningful endeavor. When teachers use collaborative writing strategies, they engage middle school students in critical thinking and authentic communication skills. There are a number of online writing spaces that allow students to write collaboratively, including Edmodo® and Google® docs.
Collaborative writing in middle school is just one way to engage students. When students value their writing purpose and audience, they discover how conventions of Standard Written English affect the clarity and impact of their message.
Here are four teaching tips that can help students enjoy learning grammar:
Emphasize the positive
Keep the grammar lesson focused
Show examples of grammar concepts in different texts and genres
Make grammar lively
Perhaps you have other questions: What is the relationship between writing instruction and grammar? What strategies help students in their understanding and command of conventions of Standard Written English?
For more complete ideas, including ways to model for students, specifics on the teaching tips mentioned here, or ways students may be assessed on high-stakes assessments, download the e-book, Effective Strategies for Engaging Middle Students (and High School) in Writing and Grammar Instruction, by Dr. Beverly Ann Chin.