We are proud to be the first and only accredited Montessori school on the Outschool platform.  In grade 8 English Grammar and Mechanics class, students master fundamental English Grammar and Writing: crucial for effective communication and writing clarity. We learn a weide range of topics designed to strengthen students' understanding and application of grammar and mechanics, including:

- Parts of Speech: 

Phrases and Clauses: Understanding the differences between phrases (groups of words without a subject-verb relationship) and clauses (groups of words with a subject-verb relationship) and their roles in sentence structure.

Pronouns and Antecedents: Learning to correctly match pronouns with their antecedents to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity in writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement: Mastering the rules governing the agreement between subjects and verbs in different sentence constructions and tenses.

Adjectives and Adverbs: Exploring the roles of adjectives (modifiers of nouns and pronouns) and adverbs (modifiers of verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs) in enhancing descriptive language.

Prepositions: Understanding how prepositions establish relationships between words in a sentence, such as time, place, or direction.

Use of Correlative Conjunctions: Learning to use pairs of conjunctions (such as "either/or," "neither/nor," "both/and," "not only/but also") correctly to connect similar grammatical elements.

- Identify and Correct Errors:

Compound and Joint Possession: Recognizing and correcting errors in compound (e.g., "John's and Mary's car") and joint possession (e.g., "John and Mary's car").
Verb Usage with Compound Subjects: Understanding and applying the correct verb form when subjects are compound (e.g., "The dog and the cat are playing").

- Direct and Indirect Objects:
Identifying direct objects (the receiver of the action) and indirect objects (the recipient of the direct object) in sentences and understanding their roles.

- Misplaced Modifiers:
Recognizing modifiers (words or phrases that provide additional information) that are incorrectly placed in sentences and correcting them to ensure clarity and coherence.

- Punctuation and Capitalization:
Punctuation: Studying the correct use of punctuation marks such as commas, semicolons, colons, dashes, hyphens, ellipses, and parentheses to enhance readability and structure in writing.

Capitalization: Understanding and applying rules for capitalizing proper nouns, titles, and the beginning of sentences.

- Ellipses and Formatting Quotations and Dialogue:

Ellipses: Deciding when ellipses (three dots indicating omission or trailing off) are appropriately used in writing.

Quotations and Dialogue: Formatting direct quotations and dialogue with correct punctuation, quotation marks, and paragraphing to distinguish speakers and maintain clarity in narrative or informational texts.

Class Structure: 

The class will be structured around a blend of instructional methods and activities. Each topic will be introduced with clear objectives and explanations to build foundational knowledge, students will be provided with engaging activities such as grammar exercises, sentence analysis, and writing tasks to reinforce learning, and students will work on writing assignments and editing exercises, sentence analysis, and writing tasks to reinforce learning. 

My teaching method will be student-centered, promoting active participation, critical thinking, and skill development. I aim to provide examples and modelling correct usage of grammar and punctuation in sentences, facilitate group activities to encourage peer interaction and shared learning, and use digital tools and resources for interactive learning experiences and research. 

I adopt a facilitative teaching style that encourages exploration and inquiry. I aim to provide  guidance and encouragement to build confidence in applying grammar and mechanics skills, encourage curiosity and critical thinking through probing questions and discussions, and promote  self-reflection on learning progress and improvement in writing skills.

Students will have frequent opportunities to interact with me through classroom discussions, small group activities, independent class work, and anytime they need to interact with me.