Apostrophes, homophones, and commas are just some of the important grammar concepts kids must master.
Grammar & Spelling
6 ways to strengthen your writing
Looking for ways to strengthen your writing? Try these tips for brainstorming and revising, improving word choice, and constructing better sentences.
Apostrophes and plural family last names
What’s the difference between plural and possessive? When is it correct to use apostrophes when writing family last names?
Do you misuse or misspell these 5 words or phrases?
When's the last time you thought about your big toe? Unless you just had a pedicure, it's probably been a while. But drop a can of tomatoes on that puppy, and ouch! Your toe will draw your attention all day long. It's like that with grammar and spelling errors, too....
How to use quotation marks at the end of a sentence | Homeschool grammar
Quotation marks. You know---those pesky little punctuation marks your kid carefully positions smack-dab above the period, hoping you won’t notice his indecision. Fret no more! Here's a helpful little tutorial on how to use quotation marks at the end of a...
English is confusing
Unless I'm typing in my sleep, I'll probably never confuse its with it's or your with you're. I'm pretty handy with a hyphen, and I'm confident that I'm not prone to apostrophe catastrophes. But I'm the first to admit that I don't know all the rules---and I have to...
Avoiding common usage errors in the English language
Alexis Bonari is joining me today as a guest blogger here at In Our Write Minds. Today, Alexis shares some helpful tips on commonly confused---and misused---words. It’s difficult for any teacher to contradict the overwhelming number of usage errors in everyday...
Choosing correct ending punctuation
If your child struggles to choose the correct punctuation at the end of a sentence, do this fun exercise together to help him learn what each punctuation mark sounds like when spoken aloud. 1. Write the following words, phrases, and sentences on index cards or...
Comma splice errors: An object lesson
Teach students to identify—and learn to fix—comma splice errors in their own writing.
5 writing tips for kids
1. Break Free from Writer's Block "As a writer, I want to choose the exact right words for my story. But when I'm stuck, I try to ask myself, What do I REALLY want to tell the readers? Instead of worrying about perfect sentences, I jot down ideas, phrases, the points...
Adjectives in a series: Commas or no commas?
Sometimes we get grammar questions in the WriteShop mailbag. Q: How is it determined when commas are needed or not needed between adjectives in a series? In WriteShop's Copying and Dictation Exercises, Lesson 5, there's a phrase I'm confused about. “Bright, fresh...
Plurals, possessives, and apostrophes | Jane’s grammar nugget
Jane Straus, late author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, has helped thousands of readers make sense of grammar. Today, we're sharing some of her tips for dealing with three more grammar bugs. Jane often said that many people have been taught incorrectly,...
Not your grandma’s grammar! | Jane’s grammar nugget
Jane Straus, late author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, can help us modernize Grandma's grammar! Jane says: As if it isn’t enough that computers have influenced just about every area of our lives, you’d think that something as sacred as the English...
Is it I or me? | Homeschool grammar lessons
I or me? Teach your kids the difference between these commonly misused pronouns.
Writing more effectively | Jane’s grammar nugget
Tips for effective writing include using active voice, parallelism, and concrete language.
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