The Grammar Teacher's Activity-a-Day: 180 Ready-to-Use Lessons to Teach Grammar and Usage

Jack Umstatter

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9780470609422
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Teaching Methods for Reading

Quick, daily classroom lessons for improving students' grammar and writing skills

This must-have resource features 180 practical, ready-to-use grammar and usage lessons and activities–one for each day of the school year. The activities included help students in grades 5-12 to acquire, improve, and expand their grammar skills, and become more adept and confident writers. Veteran educator and best-selling author Jack Umstatter helps teachers to familiarize students with the type of grammar-related content found on standardized local, state, national, and college admissions tests.

• Includes ready-to-use, yet comprehensive and authoritative activities for use as sponge activities, extra homework, or regular daily lessons
• Reproducible lessons are designed to be non-intimidating and clear for students
• Other titles by Umstatter include Grammar Grabbers!, 201 Ready-to-Use Word Games for the English Classroom, Brain Games!, and Got Grammar?

Tips for educators on how to best utilize each specific topic or lesson are included for easy classroom instruction.

SECTION TWO

Usage

27 complete and simple subjects

• The complete subject (the noun or pronoun that performs the action) contains all the words that help to identify the main person, place, thing, or idea in the sentence.

The complete subject in each sentence is italicized.

Many teachers and two principals from our school attended the musical concert.

Giraffes and monkeys in the local zoo captured the children’s interest yesterday.

This novel’s last few chapters are replete with great sensory language.

• The simple subject is the main word within the complete subject.

The simple subject is italicized in each of these sentences.

This taco from the local store was quite tasty.

Some people never cease to amaze me.

These two swimmers graduated from the same high school.

Around the corner is the local theater.

Activity

In each sentence, underline the complete subject and circle the simple subject.

Threatening skies changed our picnic plans.

Many engineers from neighboring communities have visited our sanitation plant over the last few years.

Huge trucks blocked our roadway for an hour during last week’s terrible snowstorm.

The Padres will win the championship in our local softball league this season.

The talented actress signed autographs for thirty minutes after the play.

28 complete and simple predicates

• A complete predicate is the main verb (action) along with all of its modifiers.

The complete predicate is italicized in these sentences.

Each of the seven contestants will be flying to Los Angeles next week.

The talented mechanic fixed our car yesterday afternoon.

My sister, a hairdresser, studied hard for her state licensing examinations.

Can you recall his name?

• A simple predicate (verb) is the main word or phrase that tells something about the subject (doer) of the sentence.

The simple predicate is italicized in these sentences.

Izzy roamed the neighborhood last night.

The students cheered loudly for our lacrosse team.

Youngsters really enjoy that activity.

Will he star in the school play?

Activity

Underline the complete predicate and circle the simple predicate.

The citizens heard the blaring sirens.

Babies were crying during the awards ceremony.

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Table of contents

• JOSSEY-BASS TEACHER
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• THE AUTHOR
• Acknowledgements
• ABOUT THIS BOOK
• HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
• SECTION ONE - Grammar
• SECTION TWO - Usage
• SECTION THREE - Mechanics
• SECTION FOUR - Show What You Know
• ANSWER KEY
• NOTES
• NOTES
• NOTES
• NOTES
• NOTES
• NOTES