English Language Arts Blog | Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Diary of Anne Frank Activities That Will Strengthen Descriptive Writing, Grades 3–8

“When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived!” Anne Frank wrote those words in her work: The Diary of a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 FREE Shakespeare Activities for High School Students

Every year during second semester, tenth grade teachers at my school begin to teach William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Recently, a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

3 Printable Earth Day Writing Activities, Grades 1–12

April 22 is Earth Day, and this provides teachers with an opportunity to encourage students to get involved in persevering their own communities! With...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Baseball Parts of Speech Grammar Game, Grades 2–12

The use of sports in the classroom is a great way to engage young people in learning! One of my favorite days of the year is baseball’s Opening Day. I...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

5 Fun Grammar Worksheets to Use This Spring!

Spring brings with it both pleasant weather and the interesting dynamic of nearing the end of the school year – which can be exhausting – as well as...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Celebrity Tweets Worksheet for Revising and Editing Practice, Grades 7–12

Social media has become a powerful tool for teaching and learning. Wouldn’t it be fun to edit spelling, grammar, and punctuation in a relevant and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Informative/Explanatory Writing in the Classroom, Grades 3–12

Lets explore the importance of teaching informative/explanatory writing in the classroom. Students need to have the ability to clearly convey concepts...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Grammar Creatively; Seven Worksheets To Get You Started

It can be a struggle to keep students interested in learning about the more technical side of language. One way that teachers can enhance grammar...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Tips to Successfully Begin a New Semester After Winter Break

Resolutions abound in the new year, and the beginning of a new semester can represent a clean slate, as well. A new year naturally lends itself to...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Creative Ways to Teach Parts of Speech in Middle School and High School

Memories of my middle and early high-school English class might be similar to your own: desks in rows, quiet work time, and sentence diagramming....

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

3 Easy Ways to Support Grammar Instruction School-wide

Recently, I had a hallway conversation with colleague who asked me, "Does grammar even matter anymore?" My initial reaction was, "Of course, grammar...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Nature-themed Homophone Activity, Grades 5–8

Emily Dickinson referred to nature as “the gentlest mother.” This image of ushering out one season and kindly welcoming in another, reminds me of the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Using Classroom Centers for Writing in the Middle- and Upper-Level Classroom

This school year, I did something different in my tenth grade classroom. Rather than repetitively stating classroom routines and procedures during the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

29 Printable Grammar Worksheets That Will Improve Students' Writing

Teachers, literacy coaches, principals, and administrators all want to improve the writing of students. The ability to write effectively and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Halloween Grammar Parts of Speech Worksheets for Grades 3–5

October is the time to year that welcomes the ghosts and goblins associated with Halloween. The end of the month usually signifies the end of a term or...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

The Power of Journal Writing in the Classroom

Last year, a student spoke to me about missing class for one week due to a family trip. What could she do to make up the work? After conferencing with...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Back-To-School Writing Prompts [Includes Printable Worksheets]

With today’s technology, there are many ways to get information about your students. There are also many events going on in a young person’s life that...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Free Summer Writing Prompts & Activites for Students

While summer is filled with outdoor activities that often keep young people active, it should also include summer writing prompts and activities that...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Practice Combining Adjectives and Action Words This Summer, Grades 3–5

Last week I took my sons on a hike in a national park. The summery sunshine encouraged us to hike a couple of miles on the trails. Listening to my...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How Professional Development Can Support Writing Communities in Schools

Professional development days are my favorite! How often do school leaders hear teachers in their schools say this? In this blog post, you will learn...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Writing Thank You Messages to Teachers; A Teacher Appreciation Week Activity

I fondly remember my favorite teachers. How one instilled a love of reading. How another used humor. How another truly cared about me. Today, I love...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How to Build a School Writing Community Around Shared Values–A FREE Step-by-Step Guide

In my post "Writing Communities in Schools: School-wide Literacy Action Plans," I wrote that shared value systems must be one of the first elements in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Writing Communities in School; Creating a School-wide Literacy Action Plan

In this article, we'll explore the benefits of building a school-wide community of writers and literacy action plan. With the strategies outlined in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Snowflake Adjectives Activity, Grades 3–8

Winter is a special time to enjoy the outdoors. Children like to frolic in the snow, build snowmen, go sledding, and after getting rosy cheeks, come...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

The "Grammar Fir Tree" Holiday Writing Activity, Grades 3–8

The rich history and fun celebrations of holidays make students extra lively during the month of December. Although this extra energy can be hard to...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Capitalizing Proper Nouns and Adjectives, Grades 3–5

While reading students’ work, teachers at every grade level are reminded about the importance of capitalization. A proper noun names a specific person,...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Awesome Anchor Chart to Teach Homophones, Grades 2–12

Homophone anchor charts are a great way to place the words in the classroom and provide a resource for students as they learn homophones.

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Get Shakin' with Adverbs; A Fun Revision Activity for Students

I love the idea of combining writing with speaking as much as possible. Speaking what you have written is a great revision strategy. In addition,...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How to Teach Grammar Effectively; 8 "Do's" and "Don'ts" To Keep In Mind

There is a strong relationship between grammar, writing instruction, and student achievement. Effective grammar instruction across grade levels and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

5 Tips That Will Get Students Revising Wordy Sentences

Helping your students learn to write clear, concise sentences using fewer words is an important part of grammar instruction! Wordiness not only...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Printable Halloween Writing Activity & Grammar Terms Crossword Puzzle

For many of us, the onset of Halloween means an end to the first quarter of school. Students might be finishing up projects or taking those first...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

A Principal's Role in the Professional Development of Teachers

Every Sunday, I participate in professional development on Twitter. It’s not sponsored by my school. I didn’t have to sign-up early. My principal...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

11 Elementary Grammar Worksheets That Will Improve Students' Writing

Practice is the key to mastering and improving grammar skills! Here are eleven elementary grammar worksheets teachers can use in the classroom to...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How Sentence Stems Support Middle School Students in their Writing

By the time students are in middle school, if they are writing an argument then they are expected to include words, phrases, and clauses that create...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How Literacy Coaches Can Support Teachers in Teaching ACT Test Prep

Many people like surprises. With the end of summer vacation, a surprise might be waiting for teachers at their school in the form of ACT®* scores. For...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Students the Different Writing Formats; 8 Printables to Get You Started

As you head back to the classroom, download eight resources that will assist you in teaching students the different writing formats! These posters and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Student Volunteerism; A Writing Activity With Purpose, Grades 9–12

I teach an elective class, which content purposefully and intentionally prepares low-income or at-risk students for college. High school students are...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Classroom Icebreakers to Kick Off the School Year

At the beginning of the school year, teachers have the responsibility to establish classroom routines, get to know students’ names, and immediately put...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Recharge and Refresh: 5 Ways Teachers Can Stay Motivated

July is the month that marks the middle of summer for many teachers. Last month school had just ended and next month school will begin again. Before...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

8 eBooks That Will Improve Your Writing & Grammar Instruction

Summer break is a great time for teachers and principals to participate in professional development. Today I'm sharing eight eBooks teachers can...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Recognize and Editing Errors in a Summer Story, Grades 3–5

Living in an area with snow, warmer weather is a welcome commodity. With the higher temperatures comes the opportunity for planting season. As a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Crafting Clever Sentences; Organizers for Phrases and Clauses Practice

Making grammar exciting for students is rewarding and challenging at the same time. Whenever the opportunity arises, I like to add tangible and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Setting Up Classroom Writing Centers in the Upper Grade Levels

Last year, I hosted a lab classroom where teachers observed my classroom through the lens of questions they had in their own practice. Teachers visited...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Interactive Writing Activities That Can Serve As Relief From Testing

High stakes assessments are coming to an end. This time period provides the perfect opportunity to introduce a few interactive writing activities in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Activities for Parallel Structure Practice, Grades 6–12

Poetry is one my favorite genres. Not only is the language beautiful and engaging, but also the rhythm and patterns create a melody that makes reading...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

A Revision Lesson to Celebrate Moms Around the World

Mother’s Day is a very special time for millions of people. As a mother, I feel extra appreciated by my own children on this day. Celebrating my own...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Poetry Month Activities for the Classroom

Poetry is my favorite genre. Whether it’s to read it, write it, or share it, poetry has a special role in many peoples’ lives. Poems often have a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Run-on Sentence Practice Activity for Students, Grades 3–8

As I am reading student essays and watching the snow come down, I find myself looking at the website of my favorite baseball team. Specifically, I am...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

ACT Test-Taking Strategies: Tips for Taking the ACT Writing Test

Newness is often a theme that accompanies springtime. Since last September, ACT has been working on changes to its writing prompts. This spring, the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Shamrock Parts of Speech Review Game, Grades 3–6

The month of March not only welcomes changing temperatures, spring break vacations, and college basketball tournaments, but also St. Patrick's Day!...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Students the Elements of Writing to Entertain

There are many reasons to get to together with family and friends throughout the year. Whether you like to host people at your home or you like to...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Argumentative Writing in the Classroom, Grades 9–12

Teaching both tenth and twelfth grade presents its rewards and challenges. It is rewarding because I get to see so much growth and maturity in twelfth...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Presentations: Tips for Improving Speaking and Listening Skills

I am a great admirer of eloquent speakers. I watch TED Talks in awe, closely examining the speaker’s wardrobe, hand motions, and movement across the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Narrative Writing in the Classroom [Printable Poster Included]

Students love stories. Whether they are telling a story or they are listening to a story, students become engaged with the plot line and interested in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

How To Motivate Students To Write (And Love It!)

It’s that time of year when the weeks are long, the days are colder (especially if you live where I live), and the students are in their school...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

"The Perfect Meal" Short Essay Writing Activity, Grades 2–6

Besides dedicated instructional time to learn the skills and strategies necessary to become effective writers, students need time to practice what they...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Persuasive Writing in the Classroom, Grades 2–12

Last month, I wrote an article about informative/explanatory writing in the classroom. Continuing on the theme of types of writing, today's post will...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

A Proofreading Activity to Help Elementary Students Hone Their Editing Skills

We all have had those moments. We have just hit the Send button on our email, and we see that one word. That one that is misspelled. That one that...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Teaching Students The Many Purposes of Writing

I love sticky notes. If you were to look at my desk or at my planner or at my laptop lid, you would see sticky notes filled with information. A...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Ideas To Get Students Writing In The Classroom Every Day

One of the most efficient ways to improve student writing is to write daily. To ensure writing occurs daily in my classroom I've implemented quickwrite...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Top 10 Characteristics of Effective Grammar Instruction

Direct instruction and modeling of grammar is part of a balanced literacy framework. Students need multiple and various exposures to correct grammar in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Literary Devices in Poetry Activity, Grades 3–5

I love meeting new people and making new friends. Interactive activities are a great way to get to know others and have some fun while doing it! There...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Back-To-School Writing Assessment Ideas

The first week of school is a great time for students to give you some key information about themselves. On the first day, do something to make your...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Tips to Make Classroom Setup Fun and Easy for Teachers

One of the most exciting parts of the school year occurs at the beginning with classroom setup. Whether you get to work with new materials or you have...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Comma Practice Worksheets and Anchor Chart for the Classroom

Commas are a common punctuation mark that can spice up any writing.Because there are so many different ways to use commas, students have countless...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Reinforce the Importance of Grammar & Writing with a Superstar Certificate

I remember the days of teaching grammar when students’ eyes glazed over and they checked out of the lesson. While not every day can be filled with the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Subject and Object Pronouns Worksheets for Students

When writing, clarity is key. It is important for students to understand how the proper use of a pronoun will clarify to readers what noun the writer...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Printable Verb Tenses Worksheets for Students

In order for students to write clearly, they’ll need to master verb tenses. Use the verb tenses worksheets below to help your grades 3–5 students...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Printable Adverb Activities and Anchor Chart for the Classroom

Students love to discuss what is better. I enjoy listening to their conversations throughout the school year because they usually offer an opportunity...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Prepare for the SAT®* with Sentence Completion Worksheets

Spotlighting skills every day is one way teachers can support a grammar-rich environment and prepare students for exams! The critical reading section...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Revising and Editing Worksheets: Ingalls Homestead, Grades 3–5

Revising and editing are essential skills for writers at any stage in life. Students as early as third grade can begin to read and recognize errors in...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Prepare for the ACT®* with Subject-Verb Agreement Practice Worksheets

Spotlighting skills every day is one way teachers can support a grammar-rich environment and prepare students for exams! Subject-verb agreement is a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Revising and Editing Worksheets: Remembering V-E Day, Grades 9–12

Revising and editing are skills students’ need in school and in life. Practicing revision and editing helps students recognize the characteristics of...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

SAT®* Grammar Practice Worksheet: Precise Words

Word choice and precision in writing is a skill assessed by the SAT suite of tests. When students feel confident in using concrete, specific words...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Spring Worksheets To Keep Students Engaged in Grammar and Writing

Spring brings with it both pleasant weather and the interesting dynamic of nearing the end of the school year – which can be exhausting – as well as...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

1 Foot... 2 Feet... Use Hopscotch to Identify Parts of Speech!

Hopscotch is a game whose origins date back to Roman times. Today, I'm suggesting you take advantage of the nice weather and move grammar class outside...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Six Spring Writing Prompts for Students, Grades 6–12

Students love hands-on activities and spring is a great time to get students interacting with a variety of texts using hands-on activities. The spring...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

ACT®* Test Grammar Practice: Choosing Correct Words

Word choice is emphasized in writing and in literature. Teachers read passages aloud from F. Scott Fitzgerald because of the wonderful language choices...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

ACT®* Test Grammar Practice: Verb Tenses

With high stakes testing going on across the nation, teachers have the responsibility to strengthen language and grammar development. The practice...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Earth Day Writing Activity, Grades 2–5

Civic education can be taught throughout a student’s time in school. April 22 is Earth Day, and this provides a great time for students to get involved...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

SAT®* Test Grammar Practice: Punctuation, Part 1

Language and grammar development is a vital component of learning across all subject areas. Knowledge of sentence structures impacts comprehension in a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

What's In Your Test-Taking Strategies Toolkit? 5 Printables to Help Students Ace Assessments!

The papers are passed out, pencils are sharpened and fresh test booklets are positioned on students’ desks. It’s that time again: spring testing...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

3 Quick Tips for Answering Questions on the SAT®* Test

For juniors and seniors, college is on the horizon. The SAT test assesses what students know and how they can apply that knowledge. The SAT test...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Grammar Terms Crossword Puzzle Game, Grades 6–12

With testing season on the horizon, I've been taking inventory of my "go-to" grammar games and activities. Because students work at different speeds, I...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Treat Your Students with the Grammar Land Game Board, Grades 3–12

With an 11 and 9-year-old at home, board games are a great way to spend a weekend evening. Knowing how much we enjoy playing board games at home, I...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Pin the Part of Speech on the Pig Grammar Game (K–5)

The Pin the Part of Speech on the Pig Grammar Game combines learning the parts of speech and a modified version of the game Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Rethinking Grammar: This Ain’t Your Momma’s Instruction Book, Grades 6–12

My mom likes to tell a story about her high school English teacher, who carried a ruler and rapped students’ knuckles when they struggled with grammar...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Grammar Mini Lesson: Parts of a Friendly Letter, Grades 3–5

I use letters in every class in a variety of ways. High school and middle school students can write letters to their teachers, introducing themselves....

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Complex Sentences Grammar Practice, Grades 3–5

I love using previous student work to improve student writing. Sentence combining is the strategy of joining short sentences into longer, more complex...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Movie Review Grammar & Writing Activity, Grades 6–12

Last month I shared simple ideas to make grammar instruction meaningful and enjoyable. My number one tip in the blog post was keeping grammar exercises...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Adverbs Grammar Practice, Grades 3–5

Students love to discuss what is better. I enjoy listening to their conversations during football season. Where I live, the Denver Broncos are faster,...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Awesome Anchor Chart for Indentifying Adverbs

When an English Language Arts standard focuses on developing and strengthening writing skills, students can also focus on grammar usage. One way to...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Halloween Sticky Sentences Writing Activity, Grades 6–8

I am always looking for grammar exercises that get students out of their seats. I have used the following Halloween activity with ninth-grade students,...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Pin the Part of Speech on the Pumpkin Grammar Game, Grades 1–5

Halloween provides countless images and games that children associate with this fun holiday. I have provided a great grammar game, Pin the Part of...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Halloween-Themed Grammar Terms Crossword Puzzle, Grades 6–12

For many of us, the onset of Halloween means an end to the first quarter of school. Students might be finishing up projects or taking those first...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Halloween-Themed Grammar & Writing Activity, Grades K–5

Halloween is a celebration that invites nostalgia. Seeing the little kids in their costumes reminds me of how things have changed since I was a little...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

4 Tips for Making Grammar Instruction Meaningful and Enjoyable

Grammar teachers everywhere struggle to keep students engaged and interested while teaching the technical side of language. Dangling participles and...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Commas in a Series Worksheet, Grades 6–8

Providing multiple opportunities leads to an increase in success. Because there are so many different ways to use commas, students have countless...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Common Core Grammar Activity: More Commas, Grades 3–5

Punctuation is important to clarity in writing. Commas are a common punctuation mark that can spice up any writing. Commas are often used before a...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

5 Common Uses for Commas Anchor Chart

As an English teacher, I love punctuation jokes. A common joke follows: Let’s eat Grandma! Commas matter. Let’s eat, Grandma. Another favorite is the...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Common Core Grammar Activity: Perfect Verb Tenses, Grades 3–5

Verbs have three perfect tenses. The perfect tenses describe actions that have been completed. Give your students practice on this important grammar...

Tiffany Rehbein

Grammar

Simple Subjects and Predicates Grammar Practice, Grades 3–5

When my boys began communicating in their early months of lives, they loved to identify our dog. Everything was his fault. A water cup was tipped over....

Tiffany Rehbein

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