Detailed Instructions for Using Each Grammar Teaching Strategy
Here’s a step-by-step guide for each strategy, including setup, execution, and grammar focus.
1. Running Dictation
Grammar Focus: Sentence structure, word order, punctuation, past tense, reported speech
Instructions:
1. Select a short passage (4–5 sentences) containing the target grammar.
2. Print it and tape it on a wall away from students’ desks.
3. Divide students into pairs: one Runner and one Writer.
4. The Runner reads the text, memorizes a few words, and runs back to dictate it to the Writer.
5. The Writer listens carefully and writes down what they hear.
6. The Runner repeats this process until the passage is complete.
7. Students check for accuracy and discuss the grammar used.
Example Passage:
"Yesterday, Sarah said she would visit her grandmother. However, she forgot and went to the
mall instead."
2. Bingo
Grammar Focus: Verb tenses, parts of speech, irregular verbs
Instructions:
1. Create Bingo cards with target grammar points (e.g., verb forms, prepositions).
2. Call out sentences using the grammar structure.
3. Students mark the correct word if it appears on their card.
4. The first to complete a row shouts “Bingo!” and explains their marked words.
Example:
Bingo card contains: ate, went, ran, saw, thought, brought, made
Teacher says: "I eat breakfast at 7 AM yesterday."
Students find ate and mark it.
3. Disappearing Dialogue
Grammar Focus: Question formation, verb tenses, prepositions
Instructions:
1. Write a dialogue on the board using target grammar.
2. Read the dialogue with students and have them practice it.
3. Gradually erase words while students recall and reconstruct the sentences.
4. Continue until students can say the dialogue from memory.
Example:
Dialogue on Board:
o A: "What were you doing last night?"
o B: "I was watching a movie with my sister."
Erase words gradually:
o A: "What ____ you doing ___ night?"
o B: "I ____ watching a movie ____ my sister."
4. Guessing Game
Grammar Focus: Modals of possibility, descriptive language, question formation
Instructions:
1. Write a word or phrase on a card (e.g., "tiger," "doctor").
2. One student picks a card and describes it without saying the word.
3. Others guess using modal verbs ("It might be...", "It must be...").
4. The correct guesser gets a turn to describe the next word.
Example:
Student A describes: "It has four legs and barks."
Student B guesses: "It must be a dog!"
5. Story Chain
Grammar Focus: Past tense, sequencing words (first, next, then)
Instructions:
1. Start a story with a sentence using the target grammar.
2. Each student adds a sentence, maintaining correct grammar.
3. Continue until a full story is created.
4. Review the story together, correcting any grammar mistakes.
Example:
Teacher starts: "It was raining when Jake left the house."
Student 1: "As he walked, he saw a strange light in the sky."
Student 2: "Then, he heard a loud noise behind him."
6. Information Gap
Grammar Focus: Question formation, comparatives/superlatives, prepositions
Instructions:
1. Divide students into pairs. Each gets an incomplete set of information.
2. They must ask and answer questions to complete their information.
3. Students work together to fill in their missing details.
Example:
Student A has a weekly schedule missing some activities.
Student B asks: "What do you do on Wednesday at 3 PM?"
Student A: "I have a piano lesson."
7. Storyboard
Grammar Focus: Narrative tenses, sequencing words, connectors
Instructions:
1. Show students a series of images.
2. They describe what happens in each image using past, present, or future tenses.
3. Students create a grammatically correct story.
Example:
Images: Waking up → Eating breakfast → Going to school → Studying
Sentences:
o "First, he woke up early. Then, he ate breakfast. After that, he went to school. Finally, he
studied in the library."
8. Jazz Chant
Grammar Focus: Present simple, past simple, pronunciation
Instructions:
1. Create rhythmic chants using a grammar structure.
2. Clap or tap to the beat and have students repeat.
3. Gradually increase speed for fluency practice.
Example:
Chant:
o "I wake up early. (clap, clap)"
o "I brush my teeth. (clap, clap)"
o "I go to school. (clap, clap)"
9. Dictogloss
Grammar Focus: Passive voice, sentence reconstruction
Instructions:
1. Read a short passage containing target grammar twice at normal speed.
2. Students take notes but cannot write the full text.
3. In pairs, they reconstruct the passage as accurately as possible.
Example:
Original text: "A new library was built in the city last year. Many books were donated."
Student version: "Last year, a new library was built. Many books were given."
10. Two Truths and One Lie
Grammar Focus: Present perfect vs. past simple
Instructions:
1. Each student writes three statements about themselves, two true and one false.
2. Others ask follow-up questions to determine the lie.
3. They must use grammatically correct sentences.
Example:
Statements:
1. "I have traveled to three countries."
2. "I met a celebrity last year."
3. "I have never eaten sushi."
Other students ask: "When did you meet the celebrity?"
11. Quiz
Grammar Focus: Any grammar topic (e.g., conditionals, passive voice)
Instructions:
1. Prepare a quiz with multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions.
2. Students work in teams, discussing and justifying their answers.
3. Review answers as a class.
Example:
Question: "Which sentence is correct?"
1. "If I will be late, I call you."
2. "If I am late, I will call you." ✅
12. Garden Path Sentences
Grammar Focus: Ambiguous grammar, sentence structure
Instructions:
1. Show students tricky sentences where meaning changes due to structure.
2. Have them analyze and rewrite for clarity.
Example:
Sentence: "The old man the boat."
Correction: "The old man is on the boat."
