Grammar Grabbers! : Ready-to-Use Games and Activities for Improving Basic Writing Skills

by Jack Umstatter

• ISBN13: 9780130325280
• ISBN10: 0130325287
• Format: Spiral Bound
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

This practical resource gives language arts and English teachers a unique collection of over 200 creative, fun-filled, and ready-to-use activities that make teaching and learning grammar more enjoyable for you and your students. All have been tested with students in grades 4 and up and are effective as individual group, or whole-class activities. The activities can be used as introductions, reviews, or homework assignments. They feature a stimulating variety of formats, including crosswords, word finds, concealed quotations, cryptograms, scrambled and hidden words, riddles, magic squares, word generating wheels, jumbles and more, all designed to spark and hold students2 interest. For quick access and easy use, the activities are organized into eight sections focusing on the elements of grammar and printed in a big 8-1/4" x 11" spiral binding that folds flat for photocopying of any page as many times as needed. Here2s just an overview of what you2ll find in each section: Parts of Speech- "Working with Words! The 26 "grammar grabbers" in Section 1 focus on the basic vocabulary of grammar and include activities like Pronouns Are In (nouns/names)...Verbs A Plenty (verbs)...Take Two Minutes (nouns/verbs)...and End It Correctly! (prepositions). Phrases and Clauses- Word Weavers! The 29 activities in Section 2 offer ways to identify the functions of main and subordinate clauses as well as prepositional, appositive and verbal phrases. Sample activities include No Fragmented Thoughts Here! (grammar terms)...To Be or Not To Be (infinitives)...and Starting and Ending (adverbial clauses). Sentences- Grammar2s Galaxy! Section 3 provides 26 activities to help students classify sentences according to structure and purpose while learning to avoid fragments, run-ons and comma splices in activities such as Odd One Out (fragments/run-ons)...Step by Step (components/construction)...and Matching the Diagrams (diagramming sentences). Usage- A Way With Words! The 27 activities in Section 4 review troublesome usage problems such as double negatives, misplaced modifiers, and incorrect pronouns or verbs. Samples include A Pro with Pronouns (agreement) ... Thinking About the Past (verb tenses) ... and When Too Much Is Too Much (superfluity). Mechanics- The Tools of the Trade! Section 5 offers 20 activities covering common problems in punctuation with activities like Unlucky Seven (possessives)...The Versatile Comma (commas)...Pity This Poor Printer (punctuation)...and Spelling Mnemonics (spelling). Grammar2s Helpers- Taking Care of Business! 24 activities in Section 6 explore words often confused, suffixes, plurals, idioms and more in activities such as It2s the End That Counts (suffixes)...Tooooooooooo General (sentence improvement)...Pulling Out the Stops (idioms/expressions). Grammar Games- And Away We Go! Students will love the 29 puzzler activities in Section 7, including games like Roll the Dice (parts of speech)...This Is Not a Bum Steer (idioms/expressions)...Where Is Montana? (proper nouns)...and The Name Game (parts of speech). Final Test- Knowledge Is Power! The 22 "Final tests" in Section 8 test students2 knowledge in specific areas of grammar and save hours of teacher preparation. Examples include Final Test on Agreement...Final Test on Sentences, Fragments and Run-ons...and Final Test on Irregular Verbs. You2ll find the 203 ready-to-use activities in Grammar Grabbers! give students the tools they need to use grammar more effectively in their writings and make the writing process more enjoyable. As your students become more proficient and comfortable with grammar, they will become more eager to write!

Author Biography

Jack Umstatter, a master English teacher with over 25 years' experience, is a multiple winner of the Teacher of the Year award. He currently teaches English in the Cold Spring Harbor School District in New York and education and literature at Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. He is the author of numerous teacher resources such as Brain Games!, Hooked on English! and Writing skills Curriculum Library, published by The Center.

Table of Contents

Section One PARTS OF SPEECH-WORKING WITH WORDS!
Nouns and Namesnouns	3	(1)
Is...Is Not Is...Is Not...Is...Is Not...	4	(2)
Four Letter Nouns and Verbs
nouns/verbs	6	(1)
Pronouns Are In!
pronouns	7	(1)
There's Something Very Definite about These Indefinites!
pronouns	8	(2)
G(ee), This Can Be Fun!
verbs	10	(1)
Finding the Verbs Alphabetically
verbs	11	(1)
Verbs A-plenty
verbs	12	(1)
Calling All Verbs! Calling All Verbs!
verbs	13	(1)
Be Alert!
verbs	14	(1)
26 Minus X Equals 25
adjectives	15	(1)
Take Two Minutes
nouns/verbs/adjectives	16	(1)
The Last Becomes the First
nouns/verbs/adjectives	17	(1)
Gallery of Adverbs
adverbs	18	(1)
Hey, Conjunction, We Know Your Function!
conjunctions	19	(2)
Breaking Northwestern Apart
nouns/verbs/adjectives/conjunctions	21	(1)
End It Correctly!
prepositions	22	(1)
Top Twenty-Five
all parts of speech	23	(1)
Parts of Speech Magic Square
all parts of speech	24	(1)
Nursery Rhyme Time
all parts of speech	25	(1)
You Do Parts of Speech Right!
all parts of speech	26	(1)
Bull's-Eye
all parts of speech	27	(1)
Twice Each
all parts of speech/close reading	28	(1)
Ten and Ten and Ten and Ten and Ten (and Then Five)
parts of speech/vocabulary	29	(1)
Following Directions
all parts of speech/sentence construction	30	(1)
More than One
all parts of speech	31	(4)
Section Two PHRASES AND CLAUSES-WORD WEAVERS!
Getting the Gist of Grammar
grammar terms	35	(1)
No Fragmented Thoughts Here!
grammar terms	36	(1)
U Can Do It!
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	37	(1)
The Gettysburg Address
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	38	(1)
Dissecting the Sentence
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	39	(1)
Seeing Romeo and Juliet Grammatically
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	40	(1)
What Exactly Is a Tuffet?
phrases/clauses/usage	41	(1)
Walking Wearily
phrases	42	(1)
Participles and Verbs
participles/verbs	43	(1)
Do You Notice This?
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	44	(1)
There Are No Opposing Appositives Here
appositives	45	(2)
Finding Those Sixteen Prepositional Phrases
prepositional phrases	47	(1)
Don't Let These Phrases Faze You!
phrases	48	(1)
Phrases and Scientists
prepositional phrases	49	(2)
Gerunds
gerunds	51	(1)
To Be or Not to Be
infinitives	52	(1)
Lucky Seven
infinitives	53	(1)
Completing the Idea
clauses	54	(1)
Because of the Clause
clauses	55	(1)
Phrase and Clause Indicators
phrases/clauses	56	(1)
Starting and Ending adverbial
clauses	57	(1)
Phrases and Clauses and More
phrases/clauses/sentences	58	(1)
Win's Nine Lives
phrases/clauses	59	(1)
Weathering These Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences
phrases/clauses/sentences	60	(1)
Filling in the Blanks
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	61	(1)
Combating Thirteen
phrases/clauses	62	(1)
Why?
phrases/clauses	63	(2)
Singing Along
phrases/clauses/sentences	65	(1)
Two Sentences Tell It All!
parts of speech/phrases/clauses	66	(3)
Section Three SENTENCES-GRAMMAR'S GALAXY!
The Common Word
phrases/clauses/sentences	69	(1)
Odd One Out
fragments/run-ons/sentences	70	(2)
Unscrambling the Sentences
components/construction	72	(1)
Making Sense
components/construction	73	(1)
Some Good Advice
components/construction	74	(1)
Let's Get Some Order Here!
components/construction	75	(2)
Consecutive Letters
components/construction	77	(1)
First and Foremost
components/construction	78	(1)
Step by Step
components/construction	79	(1)
The Stuff of Sentences
components/construction	80	(1)
Doing What's Required
components/construction	81	(1)
Time and Tide Wait for No Man! (So Many a Philosopher Has Said)
components/construction	82	(1)
In the Beginning and At the End
components/construction	83	(2)
Sophistication Is In
sentence combining	85	(2)
Showing Your Building Skills
sentence construction	87	(1)
Two (or More) into One
sentence combining	88	(2)
Putting the Words in Their Places
sentence construction	90	(1)
I Love to Comb Your Hair, Joe!
sentence construction	91	(1)
Writing a Short, Short Story
sentence construction	92	(1)
Are You Up to the Challenge?
sentence classification	93	(1)
What Type of
sentence Is This?
sentence classification	94	(1)
Doing the Diagramming
diagramming sentences	95	(1)
Deciphering the Diagramming
diagramming sentences	96	(1)
Matching the Diagrams
diagramming sentences	97	(1)
To Splice Is Not So Nice!
comma splice/run-on	98	(1)
The Sentence Poem
sentence classification	99	(4)
Section Four USAGE-A WAY WITH WORDS!
Grammar Vocabulary
grammar terms/examples	103	(1)
Grammar Spanning
grammar terms/examples	104	(1)
Juggling the Irregulars
irregular verbs	105	(1)
A Pro with Pronouns
agreement	106	(1)
How Irregular!
irregular verbs	107	(1)
The Subjects of Science
sentence subjects	108	(1)
Broadway Bound sentence
subjects/main verbs	109	(1)
Thinking About the Past
verb tenses	110	(1)
Five Adjectives
adjectives	111	(1)
Musically Inclined
complements	112	(1)
You Raise a Son, but a Sun Rises
irregular verbs	113	(1)
Getting Personal
personal pronouns/case	114	(1)
Something's Wrong Here-Half the Time
usage	115	(1)
Just in Case
case	116	(1)
Let's Examine Those Cases!
case	117	(1)
Casing Out the Puzzle
case	118	(1)
Don't Object to These Thirty Objects!
objects	119	(1)
Is That Object a Sign?
objects	120	(1)
The Farmer Grew My Younger Brother?
misplaced modifiers	121	(1)
When Too Much Is Too Much!
superfluity	122	(1)
It's All Happening at the Zoo
usage/mechanics	123	(2)
Making Changes
agreement	125	(2)
How Agreeable!
agreement	127	(1)
Don't Get None of These Questions Wrong!
double negatives	128	(1)
Explain Why!
grammar and usage problems	129	(2)
The Old ``Who Versus Whom'' Problem
who vs. whom	131	(1)
What on Earth?
agreement	132	(5)
Section Five MECHANICS-THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE!
Is That What It Is?
punctuation marks	137	(1)
Telephone Spelling
spelling	138	(1)
A Capital Offense...Not Getting 37!
capitalization	139	(1)
Spelling Mnemonics (Part One)
spelling	140	(1)
Spelling Mnemonics (Part Two)
spelling	141	(1)
Musically Speaking
possessives/punctuation	142	(1)
Unlucky Seven
possessives	143	(1)
Getting Technical and Staying Even
punctuation	144	(1)
The Comma Count Is Thirty-Two
commas	145	(1)
Coming Along with Commas
commas	146	(1)
The Versatile Comma
commas	147	(2)
Is a Semicolon Half a Colon?
semicolons/colons	149	(1)
Half a Hundred and You're Home!
capitalization	150	(1)
Punctuating Dialogue
punctuation	151	(1)
Punctuating Properly and Purposefully (Part One)
punctuation	152	(1)
Punctuating Properly and Purposefully (Part Two)
punctuation	153	(1)
Fitting Them in Properly
punctuation	154	(1)
How Bad Can It Get?
punctuation	155	(1)
Pity This Poor Printer!
punctuation	156	(1)
Pretty Bad Punctuation
punctuation	157	(4)
Section Six GRAMMAR'S HELPERS-TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS!
They Sound the Same But...
words often confused	161	(1)
The Principal Gave Me Dessert and Quite a Compliment!
words often confused	162	(1)
Accept a Weak Miner
words often confused	163	(1)
Homophones Crossword Puzzle
words often confused	164	(1)
Defining the Confusing
words often confused	165	(1)
Homophones Word Find
words often confused	166	(1)
Tooooooooo General
sentence improvement	167	(1)
It's the End That Counts
suffixes	168	(1)
Sweet Sixteen
grammar/usage	169	(2)
The Plurals Puzzle
plurals	171	(1)
When Y Sounds Like A and I
vocabulary	172	(1)
Let's Go to the Movies!
spelling	173	(1)
Divided Describers
adjectives	174	(1)
Daring? Timid? Optimistic? What Are You?
vocabulary	175	(1)
``Roman'' Around
vocabulary	176	(1)
The Prefixes and Roots Magic Square
vocabulary	177	(1)
It's Greek (and Roman) to Me!
vocabulary	178	(1)
Some Food for Thought
idioms/expressions	179	(1)
Ignorance Is Not Bliss!!!
Idioms/expressions	180	(1)
Pulling Out the Stops
idioms/expressions	181	(1)
Completing the Aphorisms
aphorisms	182	(2)
Don't Be Down in the Dumps
idioms/expressions	184	(1)
ST WI TH TW LE word
construction	185	(1)
The Terms of Grammar
grammar terms	186	(3)
Section Seven GRAMMAR GAMES-AND AWAY WE GO!
ENGLO
parts of speech	189	(1)
The Alphabet Game
sentence construction	190	(1)
Scoring with Sentences
parts of speech/sentences	191	(1)
Roll the Dice!
parts of speech	192	(1)
Timing Is Everything!
parts of speech/vocabulary	193	(1)
The Generating Wheel
parts of speech/vocabulary	194	(1)
The Last and the First
parts of speech/vocabulary	195	(1)
I'll Take the Fifth
parts of speech/sentence construction	196	(1)
Grammar Poems
grammar/poetry	197	(1)
From Athens to Washington
parts of speech	198	(1)
Finding and Spelling
parts of speech/spelling	199	(1)
Pronouns and Adjectives Are Great in 88!
pronouns/adjectives	200	(1)
Nouns Throughout the Alphabet
nouns	201	(1)
Sense Behind the Nonsense
parts of speech/sentences	202	(1)
For Starters
parts of speech/vocabulary	203	(1)
Journal Jotting
verb tenses/adjectives	204	(2)
Hi!
parts of speech/vocabulary	206	(1)
Beware the Ides of March close
reading/vocabulary	207	(2)
Finding Forty (or More)
word construction	209	(1)
The Sporting Life
word recognition	210	(1)
This Is Not a Bum Steer
idioms/expressions	211	(1)
Do You Have an Iron Will?
parts of speech/vocabulary	212	(1)
The Greater Waiter Brought the Crude Food
parts of speech	213	(1)
Has Anyone Spotted Eve?
proper nouns/word recognition	214	(1)
Where Is Montana?
proper nouns/word recognition	215	(1)
Characteristically Speaking
adjectives/vocabulary	216	(1)
Spelling It Out
adjectives/vocabulary	217	(1)
The Proper Way to Do It
proper nouns/word recognition	218	(1)
The Name Game
parts of speech/vocabulary	219	(4)
Section Eight FINAL TESTS-KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
Final Test on Nouns and Pronouns
nouns/pronouns	223	(1)
Final Test on the Noun and Its Functions
nouns	224	(1)
Final Test on Pronouns
pronouns	225	(1)
Final Test on Pronoun Problems
pronouns	226	(1)
Final Test on Main and Helping Verbs
verbs	227	(1)
Final Test on Irregular Verbs
verbs	228	(1)
Final Test on Verbal Phrases
verbals	229	(1)
Final Test on Adjectives
adjectives	230	(1)
Final Test on Adverbs
adverbs	231	(1)
Final Test on Parts of Speech
parts of speech	232	(1)
Final Test on Sentences, Fragments, and Run-Ons
sentences	233	(1)
Final Test on Prepositions
prepositions	234	(1)
Final Test on Complements
complements	235	(1)
Final Test on Subordinate Clauses
clauses	236	(1)
Final Test on Classifying Sentences by Purpose
sentence classification	237	(1)
Final Test on Agreement
agreement	238	(1)
Final Test on Usage
usage	239	(1)
Final Test on Words Often Confused
words often confused	240	(1)
Final Test on Words in Context close
reading/parts of speech	241	(1)
Final Test on Grammar Terms
grammar terms	242	(1)
Final Test on Commas
commas	243	(1)
Final Test on Punctuation
punctuation	244	(1)
Answer Keys	245