Grammar. A part of the English language that is very important when it comes to learning, but can be quite boring to study. Learning is all about engaging the student. If it seems dry and shows no appeal, students will eventually clock out. It is true that English can be a difficult subject to study and one that many create a mental block for. However, it does not mean that the approach taken by teachers has to be bland. Small changes such as the style of learning, the addition of creativity and a whole lot of enthusiasm, can be what makes learning and understanding grammar enjoyable. Here are some tips on how to make grammar more fun for children, as advised by this prep school in St Albans.
Grammar songs
How many songs have you memorised without realising? Most likely more than you can count on your ten fingers. Singing is a great way to memorise information and keep children engaged. This is where grammar songs come in. You may be thinking, how long will it take me to write a song about grammar? The simple answer is, you don’t need to write one at all. There are plenty of YouTube videos that can help you. These can be used as an interactive part of learning that can be done at home or in class with friends. It is also a great way of breaking up large chunks of content. Given that grammar is quite a difficult topic to get your head around, grammar songs may help younger students understand it better. Once the activity is complete, you can ask students to explain what they were singing to check if they understood the motive behind the excitement.
Grammar games
Every child loves to play games. So why not incorporate it into learning? This is a more enjoyable way to learn and can be the perfect way to help children understand grammar. Transforming a grammar lesson into a game can help children feel less frustrated and help them learn without even realising. If the task is enjoyable, it instantly becomes easier to study and pick up. Try games such as bingo and snap. There are games out there for every aspect of grammar. If you are struggling to think of ideas, be sure to use the internet for templates and instructions.
Discover the error
Children absolutely love catching adults out when they have done something wrong. You can use this to your advantage when it comes to teaching children how to spot grammatical errors. When you are teaching on the board, make a few noticeable grammatical mistakes. The idea behind this is to see if the children recognise them without being told. You can also turn this into a game. Write a piece of text on the board that is full of errors and write the number of mistakes you have made on the side. Ask the students to try and find them all. Funnily enough, the joy of attempting to correct you is what will motivate them to win the game. This is also a great way of filtering out the areas of grammar that they need more practice on.
Online grammar games
As practical as traditional resources are, the internet is full of free content, games, and activities that students can complete to aid with their learning. This is a great way to spice the lessons up a bit and make learning grammar an exciting part of the day. When searching for grammar games online, look for ones that have good ratings and quality awards. If it is something you would consider setting as homework, check compatibility over different devices to ensure students will be able to access it easily.