4 Fun And Creative Ways To Approach Learning Grammar

Grammar isn’t exactly one of those subjects that students look forward to learning. To say that it’s fun and exciting would be a huge understatement in the eyes of most kids. Luckily, there are several ways that learning grammar can be made fun. All you need is a little creativity and a willingness to approach grammar in a different way.

Read on for a few fun and creative ways to approach learning grammar.

1. Try to make grammar relevant
Students who can’t see the point of learning grammar won’t be engaged in learning it. So, find ways to make it relevant to their lives. This can be accomplished by including activities, texts, or phrases that are important in the lives of students, such as references to celebrities, nearby places, or events and festivals students will recognize. If a student can see how grammar is applicable in context to something they see as having meaning in their own lives, it’s more likely to stick.

2. Make it a competition
Who doesn’t like a little competition to get them engaged? Students certainly do! Grammar can be made a bit more exciting and fun if, in a class focused on grammar, there’s a points-based system that may involve prize-winning at the end.

Have students work in pairs or groups and collect points throughout the class for various grammar-related activities. Make sure to provide random opportunities to earn bonus points so that groups falling behind stay engaged and in it to win it!

3. Let students lead
Sometimes, making students the teacher is all you need to help grammar stick in a student’s mind. After lessons, when you’re reviewing as a class, give the reins to a student or divide the class into small groups with grammar activities to drive home the lessons they’ve learned. For teachers, this can also provide further insight into students’ strengths and weaknesses when it comes to grammar and how well they have grasped the concepts taught so far.

4. Remember you don’t have to teach by the book
It’s OK to put the textbook down and teach through the use of additional activities or media every now and then. In fact, students will likely really appreciate it! While textbooks provide a great way to introduce and build on concepts, working through a book can sometimes be – well, pretty boring. If you’re looking for ways to make grammar more fun, there are several things both teachers and parents can do to help a child explore grammar in a more entertaining and productive way.

Here are a few things to try…

• Play games. Games can transform a dull lesson into something a child actually looks forward to. To learn grammar rules that aren’t very exciting, think about games such as bingo, hot potato, go fish, tic-tac-toe, or four corners. There are thousands of online resources you can use to find grammar games.
• Catch the mistake. There are few things children love more than proving adults wrong, so have the kids spot your grammar mistakes to help drive home key concepts. You can make a challenge out of it, too. Simply tell them the number of errors they’re looking for and see if they can spot them all.
• Create silly sentences. It’s OK to get really silly with sentences when teaching grammar. After all, the grammar itself is the only thing that matters, not the content! Get creative with rhymes or word patterns, or write silly stories and songs that kids will enjoy and, most importantly, remember.
• Grammar-based songs. Songs are a great learning tool. You still remember the ABC song, don’t you? There are many grammar songs on YouTube that can help a child remember grammar concepts. These can be used as a starting point for a grammar-based lesson, and then students can be asked about the concepts they’ve learned from the song.
• Grammar games. Many online games can be used to teach grammar, too. And what child doesn’t love a good online game? The internet is a great resource for these types of things, so put it to good use – just make sure to test the games out yourself before using them.
• Hands-on lessons. Kids also love to get crafty, so why not incorporate crafts into grammar lessons? You can have students design their own booklets, make displays for the walls, or create books for the class. Older students can also help to teach younger ones. As long as you give children the freedom to create, this can help to solidify concepts in their minds.
• Roleplay. Grammar can be easily reinforced by adding a little drama. You can use concepts like superheroes for superlatives or mirrors for synonyms. Puppets or word cards can also help to pique a child’s interest and keep them engaged in the lesson.
• Get artsy. Students don’t have to sit at a desk to learn grammar. If the weather is nice, take them outside and give them some sidewalk chalk to complete grammar activities. If you’re stuck inside, paint, colored pencils, or even crayons can be used to turn a boring grammar activity into something more engaging.

Grammar is a key concept (and a bit of a dry one), but learning it and retaining it doesn’t have to be boring. Find creative ways to tackle it and students will remember important concepts for life.

Featured image by Clarissa Watson on Unsplash