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FIX IT is an activity
I developed to reinforce the grammar,
punctuation and spelling rules/skills we learn. On
Monday, I post
and read 5 sentences I have written on a chart
(these blue
display boards can be purchased at STAPLES). Each
sentence
contains 5 errors in grammar, punctuation and/or
spelling.
Throughout the week students may go to the FIX IT
centre where
they copy the 5 incorrect sentences into a small
FIX IT notebook.
They circle the errors with a pencil crayon and
then rewrite the
sentences correctly. On Friday, we go over the FIX
IT sentences
as a group on the carpet. Students circle a mistake
and then tell
how to "fix it".
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This
is an example
of how
information
about PIONEERS,
one
of our grade 3
social studies
topic, is
integrated into
Fix
It.
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FIX IT is effective for various
reasons:
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1.
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Grammar, punctuation and spelling
rules/skills are reinforced throughout the
year.
Once an initial lesson is given on a
particular skill (e.g. quotation marks),
very little
class time is required.
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2.
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The activity is presented as a centre.
Students find this more motivating than
an
"all class, paper and pencil, everyone
does it at the same time" activity.
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3.
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The routine of every sentence always
containing 5 errors makes it easier
for
students to examine the sentences for
errors. If they can only find 4, they
know
they must look harder for a 5th
mistake.
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4.
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The sentences are motivating. I often
use the names of students and familiar
places,
as well as a bit of humour (e.g. mr moore
love to watch barney and Friends.)
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5.
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Five sentences with 5 errors is a
manageable amount of work and can be done
in
less than 10 minutes during our literacy
block.
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6.
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Students have to verbalize rules and
how they fixed the mistakes when we go
over
FIX IT on Fridays. They become more
skilled at using specific vocabulary
and
terms (e.g. subject/verb agreement,
past/present tense, showing possession
etc.)
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7.
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FIX IT mirrors the editing
students do during process writing.
Editing skills improve
and students are more aware of grammar,
punctuation and spelling when they are
writing in all subject areas.
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8.
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I include several FIX IT charts
in my Choose-a-Chart program. This
helps
students to explain the activity to their
parents, as well as to get extra
practice.
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Grade Three
Specific Expectations
FIX IT addresses/reinforces:
Grammar
- use correct subject-verb agreement
- correctly use nouns, verbs, adjectives, and
adverbs
- use irregular plurals correctly (e.g., deer,
loaves, children)
Punctuation
- use the apostrophe in common contractions
(e.g., can't, I'll)
- use exclamation marks appropriately
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Copyright © 2001 Michael Moore |
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