Mastering Agreement

Curriculum Area

English Language Arts
Grade Level: 9th Grade

Objective

Students will understand and apply the rules of subject-verb agreement using common and proper nouns in both present and past tense forms.

Standards

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Materials Required

• Whiteboard and markers
• Set of 10 sentence cards with errors
• 5 mini whiteboards and markers for student use

Introduction (2 minutes)

1. Hook: Start with an engaging question. Ask, "Have you ever noticed how strange it sounds when someone says, 'The dogs runs fast' instead of 'The dogs run fast'?"
   • Briefly introduce that today you'll be exploring how to correctly match subjects and verbs.
   • Explain that mastering this skill ensures clear and correct communication.

Main Activity (5 minutes)

1. Mini-Lecture (1 minute)

   • Briefly explain subject-verb agreement focusing first on common nouns.
     • Example: "The dog (singular common noun) runs (singular verb) fast."
   • Transition to proper nouns:
     • Example: "Mickey Mouse (singular proper noun) eats (singular verb) cheese."
   • Illustrate with present and past tense:
     • "The flock flies (present) over the hills."
     • "The flock flew (past) over the hills."

2. Interactive Exercise (4 minutes)

   • Sentence Agreement Cards: Divide students into pairs or small groups. Give each pair a sentence card with a subject-verb agreement error.
   • Fix It Challenge: Students must identify and correct the error, then write the corrected sentence on their mini whiteboard.
   • Encourage discussion within pairs about why the original sentence was incorrect and how they decided on the correction.
   • Rotate to ensure each student understands the task and can explain their corrections using proper grammatical terms.

Conclusion (3 minutes)

1. Quick Review: Ask for a volunteer to share one of the sentences they corrected and explain the changes they made for subject-verb agreement.

2. Application Question: Pose a reflective question—"Why do you think maintaining correct subject-verb agreement is essential in your writing or speech?" Allow a few students to share their thoughts.

3. Exit Slip Challenge: As students leave, have them write one correct subject-verb pair (in either present or past tense) on a sticky note and place it on the board.

Engage your students with these interactive methods, ensuring they leave understanding the importance of subject-verb agreement!