I'm a big believer in multiple intelligences, so I have my 4th graders
act out the verbs so they can actually feel, see, and hear the
differences between ran and raced, yelled and bellowed, is and exists,
etc. The kids love this. As for nouns, I found the game "Password"
or "Password Junion" (also Catch phrase) to be great tools to help the
students increase their vocabulary with regard to nouns. It takes a day
or two, and then they finally get the idea. Eventually, I have the kids
make up their own lists of words that they can play anytime or anywhere.
I often find some of them playing it out on the playground or waiting to
come into the classroom in the morning! How awesome is that?

Also, many of my ESL students have difficulty differentiating between
specific or proper (específico) nouns and common (cualquier) nouns. I
use photographs and illustrations along with the words to show the
difference. I've also made up a card game, like "WAR", where Proper
Nouns trump Common Nouns. They have a ball and learn a great deal more
this way.

On 6/30/09, Richie wrote:
> Another trick is to eliminate "to-be" verbs: is, am, are, was, were,
> be, being, and been. These over-used crutches replace vivid verbs and
> keep the writer chained to the subject-verb-complement sentence
> structure. Four problem-solving approaches with good examples as to
> how to revise sentences with "to-be" verbs are found at
> http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-eliminate-to-be-
> verbs-in-writing/ On 6/22/09, Miss J wrote:
>> On 1/30/09, mh wrote:
>>> I teach vivid verbs by having each child bring in a picture of
>>> their pet. If they don't have a pet, I provide magazine
>>> pictures. Students get into groups and write down 15 verbs
>>> that tell about their pet. Then we make a master list.
>>> Afterwards the students make a poem about their pet
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 1/24/09, mr. buxton wrote:
>>>> On 11/04/08, 4th grade wrote:
>>>>> I need some ideas on where to start.
>>>>
>>>> Try this. Also look at my non-fiction resources 'GRAAB
>>>> and/or SSS' for advanced sentence construction
>>
>>
>> I have done this with adjectives and verbs. I am sure it could be
>> tweaked to do with nouns. For verb...On the board or chart paper
>> write a verb. Student work individually or in small groups to
>> come up with as many synonyms as possible. EX. Jump: leap, hop,
>> bound, hurdle, etc. The group with the most synonyms gets a point
>> (You don't have to keep score.) Students then write a short story
>> using the list of verbs that was created, but can only you each
>> word one time. The same for adjectives...list an adjective on
> the
>> board and think of as many synonyms...colors are fun to do! EX.
>> Big: huge, gigantic, massive, large, monstrous, etc. Keep the
>> lists around the classroom or in a binder/folder to reference
>> during writing time.

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