Common Core Standards
Grade 7
Language L.7.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Although the normal capitalization, punctuation, and spelling stuff is important, the focus of seventh grade is on something called coordinate adjectives, which basically are just adjectives that you can stick an "and" between or swap the order of without accidentally summoning Cthulhu. For example, in the phrase "mind-shattering, tentacular Cthulhu," "mind-shattering" and "tentacular" are coordinate adjectives, since both "mind-shattering and tentacular Cthulhu" and "tentacular, mind-shattering Cthulhu" are also valid descriptions. Because of that, a comma should be used between the two adjectives.
By the way, if you’re thinking about summoning Cthulhu any time soon—don’t.
P.S. If your students need to brush up on their spelling and grammar, send 'em over to our Grammar Learning Guides so they can hone their skills before conquering the Common Core.
Standard Components
Aligned Resources
- Teaching A Wrinkle in Time: Famous Kids Traveling in Threes (or Fours)
- Teaching Maniac Magee: City Divided
- Teaching Maniac Magee: Pizza Problems—Too Many to Count
- Teaching Maniac Magee: Exploring Homelessness
- Teaching Moon Over Manifest: Sliding Through History
- Teaching Farewell to Manzanar: "What else should I be? All apologies." (Nirvana)
- Teaching The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963: Let's Do the Time Warp
- Teaching The Westing Game: A Puzzle Mystery: "America the Beautiful": In Depth
- Teaching Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: Integration In Our Nation
- Teaching Because of Winn-Dixie: Channeling Winn-Dixie
- Teaching The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Childhood Treasures
- Teaching The View from Saturday: Create Your Own Knowledge Bowl
- Teaching The Westing Game: A Puzzle Mystery: Wanted: Dead or Wax Look-Alike!
- Teaching Ella Enchanted: TWIST-ed Storytelling
- Teaching Hatchet: Biology 101
- Teaching A Wrinkle in Time: Right Brain Versus Left Brain
- Teaching Number the Stars: Good to See You Again…
- Teaching Bridge to Terabithia: Building Bridges
- ELA Online: Digital Literacy Connections to English Language Arts: Twilight Activity: The Cullen Cars
- Teaching Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: T.J.'s Downward Spiral
- Teaching The View from Saturday: Getting To Know a Turtle (Almost)
- Teaching The Westing Game: A Puzzle Mystery: Share the Wealth: Pair with an Heir
- Teaching Ella Enchanted: Orphan vs. Orphan
- ELA Online: Digital Literacy Connections to English Language Arts: Facebook or Twitter Plot Summary
- Teaching Number the Stars: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
- Teaching Hatchet: What's The Big Deal in Hatchet?: Determining the Climax
- Teaching Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: The Rules of Flag Flying (You Read That Right)
- Teaching The View from Saturday: Too Many Narrators? What's Your Point of View?
- Teaching The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963: The Byron Files
- Teaching A Wrinkle in Time: The Quotable Mrs. Who
- Online Community, Culture, and Citizenship: The Ties That Bind: How To Be A Good Online Citizen
- Online Community, Culture, and Citizenship: E-Organizing for A Better World: Internet Activism
- Internet Privacy and Security: Keeping It Real (Secret): Creating Strong Passwords and Avoiding Tricks
- Teaching Moon Over Manifest: HistoryBusters
- Teaching Hatchet: All Alone and Nowhere to Go