Are you looking for strategies for teaching students to use punctuation? If so, keep reading.
1. After checking the student’s work, require them to make all appropriate corrections in punctuation.
2. Inspect the student’s work at several points throughout a task to make sure the student is using punctuation when appropriate.
3. Display a chart of punctuation rules in front of the classroom.
4. Provide the student a list of sentences in which the punctuation has been omitted. Get the student to supply the correct punctuation with colored pencils.
5. Examine with the student common punctuation rules before starting a creative writing learning experience.
6. Provide the student a sequence of sentences representing all the punctuation rules. Get the student to find the rules for each punctuation. Remove each sentence from the task when the student can explain the rules for punctuation in the sentence.
7. Give the student apps that gives practice and reinforcement in punctuating sentences and other creative writing tasks (e.g., addresses, letters, etc.).
8. Provide the student sentences requiring them to fill in specific punctuation they are learning to use (e.g., periods, commas, question marks, etc.).
9. Make sure the student receives instruction in the rules of punctuation (e.g., periods belong at the end of sentences, question marks are used when a question is asked, etc.).
10. Get the student to take part in writing learning activities that should cause them to do as well as possible on punctuation and other writing skills (e.g., writing letters to a friend, rock star, famous athlete, etc.).
11. Teach the student what all punctuation marks look like and their uses.
12. Get the student to keep a list of basic rules of punctuation at their desk to use as a reference when writing (e.g., use a period at the end of a sentence, etc.).
13. Provide the student a set of three cards: one with a period, one with a question mark, and one with an exclamation point. As you read a sentence to the student, have them hold up the appropriate punctuation card.
14. Get the student to practice correct punctuation on the smartboard by providing the student with several sentences with errors. The student is then expected to correct the punctuation errors and discuss them with the teacher.
15. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., using punctuation correctly) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
16. Consider using one of the apps on one of our best writing apps lists:
The Tech Edvocate’s List of 31 Grammar & Writing Apps, Tools & Resources
Ten Apps to Help Learners Develop Writing Skills
10 of the Best Grammar and Writing Apps for Elementary School Learners
11 of the Best Grammar and Writing Apps for High School Learners
10 of the Best Grammar and Writing Apps for Middle School Learners
