2. Grammar Rules Project: A Day in the Life of Teaching Grammar

3. Introduction As you know there is an increasing pressure from the government for students to become proficient in areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Your teachers have been called upon to teach you grammar basics in order for students to score proficient in the area of writing. This is a huge problem because students who do not achieve proficiency on standardized tests may not pass middle school, and funding may be lost for the schools. This funding supports athletics, electives, and extra-curricular activities. The other main problem teachers are facing is that students find grammar extremely boring. This is where your teacher needs your help!

4. Your task is to… 1. Develop a list of the 10 most essential grammar rules that you can give to your fellow classmates as a quick reference guide. 2. Create a lesson on one grammar rule you can teach that you feel is most important to becoming a proficient writer. AND

5. Rationale: Your Language Arts teacher, Dr. Turner, is asking for your help in this area because you know what interests students your age. She knows that you can turn a boring grammar rule into something that your classmates can understand and remember by making that grammar rule interesting and exciting!

6. Resources Your teacher has provided you with resources to help you accomplish this task. There are links that can be found on the RCMS webpage that will take you to grammar sites, grammar videos, and grammar games designed to help you become experts on grammar rules. Take a minute to look through the links. Then you will need to assemble a team to help you tackle the task of teaching your class one major grammar rule. Start by going here: http://reedycreekms.wcpss.net/ Then click here & find your teacher’s name: http://rcms6grade.wordpress.com/

7. Procedures 1.Compile a list of 10 important grammar rules. Your list must be annotated which means that you need to include the definition of the rule, a correct and incorrect example of the rule, and the web address of the site that you found your rule. 2.Visit Dr. Turner’s website regularly to view and take notes on the grammar videos linked there. 3.Complete the reinforcement exercises related to each rule. See your teacher and the links provided to websites for these exercises on Dr. Turner’s webpage.

8. Procedures 4.Decide as a group on a first choice and a second choice rule that you feel everyone in the class needs to know. After you've decided on a rule, present your choice(s) to your teacher for approval. Since every group must pick a unique rule, you may not get your first choice. 5.Create a lesson plan for how you are going to teach your grammar rule to the class. Please see the your teacher and the links provided to websites for lesson plan examples. 6.Finally, practice your presentation as a group. Make sure everyone is clear on what their part is and remember everyone needs equal speaking time.

9. Presentation When designing your lesson for the class, you will have to decide how you want to present it to your fellow students. Studies suggest that students feel more motivated when some form of digital application and auditory technology is involved. As a group, you will decide how best to present your lesson. You may use PowerPoint, Glogster, Prezi, PhotoStory, etc. However, since you are our expert teacher in this area, your teacher is open to creative presentation techniques involving technology. Just run your ideas by your teacher for feedback.

10. How Will You Be Graded? Your annotated list of grammar rules--Is it complete and comprehensive? Your completed online grammar exercises & worksheets showing your mastery of your 10 grammar rules. Your overall lesson/presentation on your grammar rule to the class--Were you clear, well rehearsed, prepared? Were handouts included? What was the effect of the presentation? Use the link below to download the PDF Presentation Rubric to evaluate your group's presentation. Presentation Rubric Presentation Rubric

11. How Will You Be Graded? How well you worked as a group--Did you make decisions fairly and with everyone’s input? Did everyone have an equal part? Was everyone included, and did everyone feel welcomed as a valuable member of the group? Download the link below to access a rubric that you can use to evaluate individual student effort in a collaborative group. Collaborative Work Skills Rubric Collaborative Work Skills Rubric You will also be asked to complete a self- evaluation of your work. Click on the Self Evaluation link here to complete your self evaluation after your presentation is complete.Self Evaluation

12. Closure/Feedback Finally, you will be asked to give your feedback on this project. Suggestions/Critiques are welcomed at this stage.

13. Sources Kristina Roys, Samantha McLeod, and Koreen Gonzales http://imet.csus.edu/imet5/koreen/imets ites/282/student/index.htm