Description
I once taught a 3rd grader named Liam who wrote everything as one long sentence. When I asked where his ideas ended, he said, “But it’s all one story.” That’s when I realized teaching periods means teaching clear thinking.
Why Periods Matter
While question marks and exclamation points stand out, periods do the hard work:
- Create clarity by separating thoughts
- Set rhythm and pacing in writing
- Build confidence with structure
- Prevent run-ons that confuse readers
- Anchor all other punctuation
Even in texting, periods signal tone—sometimes formal or serious—making them more important to teach than ever.
What’s Inside?
Three activities that treat periods as writing’s building blocks:
Activity 1: Sentence Boundary Detection
- Find where thoughts begin and end
- Break run-ons into clear sentences
- Spot fragments missing subjects or verbs
Activity 2: The Paragraph Architect
- Arrange sentences into paragraphs
- Use periods for logical flow
- Add transitions between ideas
Activity 3: Punctuation Purpose Match
- See how punctuation changes meaning
- Compare period, question mark, and exclamation point
- Learn how periods create a neutral, clear tone
3 Teaching Tips
- The Breath Test: Read aloud and add periods where you naturally pause.
- Color-Coding: Highlight each thought in different colors before punctuating.
- Peer Editing: Trade papers to find run-ons and fragments.
Call to Action: Click ‘Add to Cart’ to download the Period Worksheet and help students turn rambling writing into clear, confident sentences!
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