Lesson Plans for Tutoring
These lesson plans were designed for a group of 3-4, 8th grade students. They focus on improving grammar skills while continuing to work on writing skills.
Lesson #1: Pronouns and Antecedents
The object of this lesson was to have students identify pronouns and antecedents in a sentence and then be able to generate a paragraph, correctly using pronouns to replace nouns. This was our first session so we eased into it with a worksheet to complete on pronouns and a writing prompt asking them to describe Rose Park Middle School to a rising fifth grader.
Lesson #2: Verbs
By the end of the lesson, I expected the students to identify 90% of the verbs within a paragraph and correctly describe the types of verbs (action, linking, helping) used in a sentence 70% of the time. After giving direct instruction, the students read and article and found verbs within the article. They were able to use a graphic organizer that I provided to name the types of verbs. We needed the session with a writing prompt where they discussed what they did on their 'snow day', thinking about using verbs correctly.
Lesson #3-Adjectives
The object of this lesson was to have students be able to identify 100% of adjectives in a paragraph. I began by giving direct instruction on what adjectives are and why we use them. I then had them complete a word search full of 15 adjectives (just to wake their brains up a bit!). After, they were to use to 10 out of the 15 adjectives to write a news story. Once they had completed their story we all read a paragraph together where they circled the adjectives in the paragraph.
Lesson #4 Conjunctions and Interjections
By the end of the lesson, I expected the students to identify 100% of conjunctions and interjections within a paragraph and compose sentences using conjunctions and interjections. After we discussed what conjunctions and interjections were, I asked them to pull out their paragraphs from last week and look to see if they used any conjunctions or interjections. We then finished the lesson with a worksheet.
Lesson #5-Review
This lesson was about half way through our time at Rose Park and so I decided to play a Jeopardy review game. I made a poster with all categories of lessons we had previously done and a miscellaneous category. Each student seemed to really have fun with the game and retained information well from the previous weeks. Once we were finished I gave each student a prize for participating so well.
Lesson #6- Prepositional Phrases
The object of this lesson was for students to identify prepositional phrases in a given paragraph and complete a worksheet to 100%. We began this lesson with direct instruction and then a fill in the blank worksheet as a check for understanding. We then moved to reading a article and finding prepositional phrases within that article. I made a graphic organizer of common prepositions for students to use. After reading, I had the students write a prompt about the article that we read.
Lesson #7- Commas
Commas are one of the most misused mechanic in grammar. Because of this, I decided to focus on only a few specific uses for commas so they could retain the information better. I had them insert missing commas into a paragraph and then write 6 sentences of their own using commas correctly. During class, we had been discussing transitions for students so for their prompt that day I decided to have them write about what they are most excited/nervous about for high school. We then discussed their writing and had a group discussion about transitioning to high school.
Lesson #8- Vocabulary Bingo
I noticed that all 3 of my students struggled with word meaning on their third DEA test. To help with this, I designed a bingo game around words commonly used in high school and on the ACT/SAT exam. Students could fill their table from words I provided and then I read a definition and they would have to select which word they thought it was. The first student to fill 5 in a row, got BINGO!
Lesson #1: Pronouns and Antecedents
The object of this lesson was to have students identify pronouns and antecedents in a sentence and then be able to generate a paragraph, correctly using pronouns to replace nouns. This was our first session so we eased into it with a worksheet to complete on pronouns and a writing prompt asking them to describe Rose Park Middle School to a rising fifth grader.
Lesson #2: Verbs
By the end of the lesson, I expected the students to identify 90% of the verbs within a paragraph and correctly describe the types of verbs (action, linking, helping) used in a sentence 70% of the time. After giving direct instruction, the students read and article and found verbs within the article. They were able to use a graphic organizer that I provided to name the types of verbs. We needed the session with a writing prompt where they discussed what they did on their 'snow day', thinking about using verbs correctly.
Lesson #3-Adjectives
The object of this lesson was to have students be able to identify 100% of adjectives in a paragraph. I began by giving direct instruction on what adjectives are and why we use them. I then had them complete a word search full of 15 adjectives (just to wake their brains up a bit!). After, they were to use to 10 out of the 15 adjectives to write a news story. Once they had completed their story we all read a paragraph together where they circled the adjectives in the paragraph.
Lesson #4 Conjunctions and Interjections
By the end of the lesson, I expected the students to identify 100% of conjunctions and interjections within a paragraph and compose sentences using conjunctions and interjections. After we discussed what conjunctions and interjections were, I asked them to pull out their paragraphs from last week and look to see if they used any conjunctions or interjections. We then finished the lesson with a worksheet.
Lesson #5-Review
This lesson was about half way through our time at Rose Park and so I decided to play a Jeopardy review game. I made a poster with all categories of lessons we had previously done and a miscellaneous category. Each student seemed to really have fun with the game and retained information well from the previous weeks. Once we were finished I gave each student a prize for participating so well.
Lesson #6- Prepositional Phrases
The object of this lesson was for students to identify prepositional phrases in a given paragraph and complete a worksheet to 100%. We began this lesson with direct instruction and then a fill in the blank worksheet as a check for understanding. We then moved to reading a article and finding prepositional phrases within that article. I made a graphic organizer of common prepositions for students to use. After reading, I had the students write a prompt about the article that we read.
Lesson #7- Commas
Commas are one of the most misused mechanic in grammar. Because of this, I decided to focus on only a few specific uses for commas so they could retain the information better. I had them insert missing commas into a paragraph and then write 6 sentences of their own using commas correctly. During class, we had been discussing transitions for students so for their prompt that day I decided to have them write about what they are most excited/nervous about for high school. We then discussed their writing and had a group discussion about transitioning to high school.
Lesson #8- Vocabulary Bingo
I noticed that all 3 of my students struggled with word meaning on their third DEA test. To help with this, I designed a bingo game around words commonly used in high school and on the ACT/SAT exam. Students could fill their table from words I provided and then I read a definition and they would have to select which word they thought it was. The first student to fill 5 in a row, got BINGO!