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CM . . . .
Volume VI Number 11 . . . . February 4, 2000
If these titles, all part of the "Working with Words" series, are any indication of the direction
educators are taking in the teaching of grammar skills, then indeed we have come (almost) full
circle. In the 1950s and '60s, students were issued grammar and spelling texts and assigned
exercises intended to improve the students' skills in those subjects. Then came whole language -
grammar texts were turfed and kids learned how to write by, guess what? - writing! Nowadays,
when high schools and universities are claiming that our kids can't write or spell, once again
teachers are returning to the methods (updated, of course) in which language is dissected in an
attempt to get their students to understand the rules of grammar and the way in which language
works.
All of the titles follow a similar format. Reproducible worksheets, covering a variety of topics,
require only a pencil to complete. Answers are provided as well as a table of contents, glossary
and grammar and spelling skills inventories with page references. Cartoon-like line drawings
enliven each activity page.
In Grammar Tools and Rules, which includes parts of speech, alphabetizing and punctuation
activities, "EXTRA!" boxes on each page contain additional activities which allow children to
experiment with language, expand their knowledge and apply what they have learned.
Spelling Skills for Active Learning provides various strategies such as syllabication, shaping the
word and visualization. Regular and irregular plurals, prefixes, suffixes, homophones, word
patterns, root words, silent letters, contractions and "tricky" words are also covered.
Using Grammar and Punctuation consists of ideas for extending concepts through games.
Covering parts of speech, sentence construction, capitalization and punctuation, this book also
provides puzzles and word searches. Both the simpler activities and the larger text of this
title are geared toward younger students and, perhaps, weaker readers (think differentiated
instruction). Of the three titles, this one is the most basic.
Language arts teachers looking for supplementary materials will find all of these books useful.
Recommended.
Gail Hamilton is a teacher-librarian at Bird's Hill School in East St. Paul, MB.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association.
Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice
is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without
permission.
Published by
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - February 4, 2000.
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