ABSTRACT
The Common Core State Standards for Language might seem intimidating for teachers because they require a heavy focus on grammar, which often is not taught explicitly or regularly in schools. The standards lay out which grammar conventions should be taught in each grade level; each year builds on the previous ones. To meet these new grammar requirements, remember that you should not teach grammar in isolation. You do not need to create long, formal units for part of the year. Instead, think of ways you can incorporate grammar mini-lessons into your reading and writing units. Look at your texts and your writing assignments, and see which rules would be a good fit. When you teach a certain convention, you can require students to use it in their own writing, and you can have students look for examples of it in whatever they’re reading. Also teach students the “why” behind grammar rules so they see the relevance of clear communication to their own lives.
