[sportwinds]

to teach parts of speech!
I've reviewed the LA curriculum for my 5th graders and they've been learning parts of speech - especially nouns and verbs - since 1st grade. What can be done about the student who can't find a verb in the sentence: She is nice.

Any new/fun ideas for teaching parts of speech in a way that will stick? Grammar lessons and worksheets just aren't doing it!

[GiantSubs]

let me know! I can't believe how little grammar has "stuck" in their 5th grade heads over the course of the years. I teach a section, test it, and then go back two to three weeks later with review, and they have forgotten everything I taught. I know grammar isn't always fun, but I do incorporate a lot of interactive things, I go beyond the book, and still they don't remember - it's frustrating.

[vespergirl]

Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson
Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson
Getting it Right by Jeff Wilhelm

These have all made me see that there is a different way to teach grammar -- in the context of writing, and by cutting down what I teach to the absolutely essential. I focus much more now on how to write good sentences, using parts of speech, than I do on direct instruction of parts of speech. The Wilhelm book is particularly good at identifying exactly what needs to be taught and has lots of great activities.

[kas327]

Whenever we have a few minutes before we have to go somewhere, I will time the students (about 30 seconds) to write down as many nouns as they can, or verbs, etc. They love it. Then, having them just recognize the parts of speech when they are reading, really helps too.

[sportwinds]

I've spent the last half hour browsing the Anderson and Wilhelm books on Amazon. I've very excited about these suggestions! Thanks!

[pmpkin2]

I agree with Vespergirl, parts of speech should be taught during the writing process. It isn't necessary to give students a page full of sentences and have them circle the verb/noun/etc... We don't do it in real life. As long as they know the parts of speech, they can use that knowledge to improve writing.

[cowpig]

Our students really enjoyed this and it has seemed to stick pretty well so far...

[sportwinds]

I am really enjoying Getting It Right, which I purchased based on your suggestion. Thanks again for the recommendation!