Category Archives: English Language Arts

If a teacher maintains a healthy sense of humor about him- or herself, I would argue, he or she will find him- or herself as the butt of students’ jokes, which may even manifest itself in classroom banter. Put another way, and more subjectively, my students and I have had a few laughs at my expense on more than one occasion.

Students should possess the vocabulary to describe this badinage, hence the arrival of this context clues worksheet on the transitive verb heckle, which doesn’t exactly describe this classroom situation; that said, it gives teacher and students an opportunity to discuss the difference between heckling and banter.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Here is a context clues worksheet on the adjective jocular. While not a word in particularly common usage these days, it is a good word to know nonetheless.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Here is a context clues worksheet on the noun mainstay. It’s a commonly used word, maybe even a mainstay of the English language. But very, very few of my students over the years have known it; they should.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.