Thread: How to engage students to explore the usage of punctuation

Not that I know anything about curriculum/technique/etc. Just wondering, though, how one goes about teaching this. Do you organize it by specific punctuation mark? Like, do you teach the comma and all its uses, then, separately, the semicolon, then the colon, the apostrophe, whatever? Because I would think (this is theoretically speaking, of course, as my experience in language instruction is infinitesimal) that punctuation and the other particulars of language could be taught by instance. I mean, instead of saying, "Here's a punctuation mark, here's the structures in which it's used [insert example sentences]," saying "Here's what you're trying to say, here's how you would go about it [insert discussion of the role of the comma]."

This is just me musing about how to approach a task other than the one in which I'm presently engaged. I have a humongous article to edit for the school paper by tonight, and I'm stalling. Bleh. But, no, really, I'm extremely curious about this. I do still want to be a language teacher eventually.... Sorry. Not a helpful post for you. *goes crawling back to work*

I highly recommend the books of Scott Purdy. I don't know if I'm allowed to link, but his company is called Write Time Publishing. He has a book called "Teaching Students to Write" which was my bible when I taught regular English. I've been to many of his workshops. He has a very practical, well-thought-out lessons in grammar and punctuation.

Also, I've heard that the author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves has two books for kids about commas and apostrophes. I've only read the adult version ( and recommend it!). I think the apostrophe one is called "The Girls Like Spaghetti."

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is a great punctuation book. I have the adult version, and I've seen the children's version.

I teach all of my punctuation in mini-lesson format through their own writing pieces.

Originally Posted by Ima Teacher

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is a great punctuation book. I have the adult version, and I've seen the children's version.

I teach all of my punctuation in mini-lesson format through their own writing pieces.

I just listened to the audio book of the BBC radio show that the book was based upon. It was amazing-- definitely something to look into.

My department just received a sample of "Woe is I" and it reads like a narrative about experiences with grammar and punctuation. What little I"ve seen of it, I really like. Especially since it is humrous.