Free Grammar Lesson from “Let’s Eat Fifi”

Lesson 16: When to use “I” and “Me”

Song lyrics are notorious for misusing I and me. Here’s what I mean:

I gaze into the starry sky
And dream each night of you and I.

This corny yet grammatical travesty happens so often that it barely scratches our ears any more.

You already know when to use I and me in simple sentences:

I went to the movie and spilled my drink all over me.

The problem occurs when you are not alone, when you spill your drink on yourself and your friend. Do you use I? Do you use me?

Click here to grab your copy of this whole grammar lesson from “Let’s Eat Fifi,” complete with answers! Or click the button below.

Grammar Lesson Here >>

Poppies on Memorial Day

HIGH SCHOOL PROMPTS

On Memorial Day in America, we remember and honor those in the armed services who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Poppies are often given out on Memorial Day as a symbol of those fallen men and women. This tradition comes from the first lines of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant Colonel John McRae, who wrote it during World War I and was remembering his fallen friends now buried in fields far from home.

Memorial Day Writing Prompt

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMPTS

The United States celebrates Memorial Day, a day to remember the men and women in the armed services who have given their lives for our country.

The late General Colin Powell wrote of the granite Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D. C., “At no other battle monument are people so moved, stenciling names and leaving gifts like combat boots, uniforms, sonograms, even a

Happy Mother’s Day!

SHARON’S BLOG

Happy Mother’s Day to you. You are so special and are doing such important work!

To honor you, I’m making available to you a free lesson from our grammar eBook Let’s Eat Fifi. There are 23 lessons in the eBook, and this is lesson 3; it’s on commas and compound sentences. The lesson includes a colorful infographic and ANSWERS. You can download it here. For free!

In addition to the free download, I’ve included four mother-related writing prompts for your students. These are appropriate for grades 5 – 12.

True story: The lily at the top of this page is from my daughter. She gave it to me for Mother’s Day about 11 years ago, and it blooms every August. In fact, it’s now an annual tradition to take my granddaughters’ pictures next to it.

*****

Writing Prompt: A Mother’s Heart

SHARON’S BLOG
What does your mother mean to you?

It might be difficult to put that into words, but this writing prompt will help you with that.

No sentences necessary and you even get to be creative with color!

You can write about another significant woman in your life as well.

Ready to bless your mom?

My End-of-School “Whew!” Moment

SHARON’S BLOG

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and many of us believe it cannot get here soon enough. Others might be graduating students this year and are hit with feelings of pride and grief. I want to share an end-of-school-year “whew!” moment that I experienced. Has this been your experience as well?

Here’s what I wrote when my daughter was finishing her junior year:

Summertime Bundle 2

Summertime! The key word here is “enjoy.” Enjoy these fun and thought-provoking prompts and writing ideas. Enjoy their summery-ness. And enjoy that your 5th – 12th graders are writing but you are not grading!

There are six prompts and prompt bundles waiting for your children and one article for you.

Ready? Let’s go . . .

Summertime Bundle 1

SHARON’S BLOG

Take a break from grading and give your 5th-12th grade students some fun, summer-themed topics to write about.

There are five for your students and one article for you. It’s all about practical, real-life experiences you can turn into writing events.

Here goes . . .

16 Travel-Writing Prompts

SHARON’S BLOG
Are you a homebody or do you love to gallivant? To gallivant is to travel, wander, or globetrot. Does that sound like you?

Whatever you happen to be, you can use these 16 writing prompts to become an armchair traveler and see the world right from where you are. You might even be inspired to plan a real-life trip!

Suitable for 5th – 12th graders.

Go to the Ant—A Picnic Prompt

SHARON’S BLOG
Summer is almost here, and that means picnics! When you think of picnics, what comes to mind? It might be fried chicken, sweet tea, or potato salad. You might think of your mom, siblings, or other family members at a park. Maybe you think of Frisbees, Nerf balls, or a blanket to sit on.

But you and your family aren’t the only ones at the picnic! You might see

Strengthen Your Friendships with a Friendship Journal

SHARON’S BLOG
Jonathan and David. Anne Shirley and Diana Barry. Calvin and Hobbes. Those are some epic friendships!

The Bible has a lot to say about friendships. It warns us against foolish ones: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33). Scripture encourages us that a “friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).

Friendship is important to God. How important is friendship to you?

If we want to make new friends, we have to show ourselves friendly. As Dale Carnegie, the famous philanthropist revealed, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” That’s a challenge in a new group or situation, isn’t it?

Whether you have a new friend or a friend you’ve known since kindergarten, communication is important to the relationship.

A fun way to keep communication open is with a friendship journal. It’s a simple concept: You both answer a question in a journal and share your journal back and forth. You can make your own journal from a spiral-bound notebook or make your own book.

Writing in Summer?

SHARON’S BLOG

It’s summer. A sweet breeze of relief flows through the family tree and tickles the leaves. You hear a child giggle.

But you’ve worked hard on this year’s writing classes, and you want to make sure that your children’s writing skills don’t completely deteriorate during summer vacation. What can you do?

Summer is fun, and your children’s summertime writing activities can be fun for them and for you as well. Otherwise, it’s not really summer!

The most important feature of writing in summer is

Snowflakes in Summer?

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMPTS

Hot, sweaty, summer days are filled with things you can’t do other times of the year, things like going on a beach vacation, weeding and harvesting, canning, swimming outdoors, catching fireflies, going camping, spending time with friends, and so on.

So perhaps it makes no logical sense that this prompts is really about winter.

2 Fresh Summertime Ideas for Writing and Literature

SHARON’S BLOG

Happy summertime hello to you!

Since we’re deep into vacations, cook-outs, swimming, gardening, swatting mosquitoes, and avoiding school, I wanted to keep this post light and share some fun stuff that doesn’t take a lot of energy.

Writing in summer?

1. Want some fun writing activities for your kids this summer?

3 Types of Poems for Poetry Month

SHARON’S BLOG

Let’s give your students some practice in writing poetry!

With these guided prompts, your students do not have to “sit down and write a poem” but will surprise you by creating something fun and maybe even memorable. Here goes . . .

Symbols of Easter

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMPTS

Eggs have long been symbols of spring and of Easter. They represent new life and new beginnings.

So does Jesus’ resurrection. Death has been conquered! There is new life in Jesus.

You are hiding Easter eggs of various sizes for young children to find.

Inside each plastic egg is a jelly bean and a little object that represents part of the Last Supper, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. In other words, each object stands for a different part of the Easter account, like these: events, people, food, places where the events took place, truths, and so on.

Unlocking the Secrets of Writing and Literature

Free Grammar Lesson from “Let’s Eat Fifi”

Lesson 16: When to use “I” and “Me”

Poppies on Memorial Day

Memorial Day Writing Prompt

Happy Mother’s Day!

Writing Prompt: A Mother’s Heart

My End-of-School “Whew!” Moment

Summertime Bundle 2

Summertime Bundle 1

16 Travel-Writing Prompts

Go to the Ant—A Picnic Prompt

Strengthen Your Friendships with a Friendship Journal

Writing in Summer?

Snowflakes in Summer?

2 Fresh Summertime Ideas for Writing and Literature

Writing in summer?

Symbols of Easter

You are hiding Easter eggs of various sizes for young children to find.

Looking for something?

.