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Mark Pennington
United States - California - El Dorado Hills
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3.9
169 votes
Assessment-based ELA/Reading Instruction
 
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4.0
The Reading Fluency and Comprehension Toolkit provides 43 expository animal fluency articles and 43 corresponding animal comprehension worksheets...
$24.95 $19.99
Digital Download
4.0
4.0
Grammar Openers Toolkit provides 64 "openers" to teach students all the grammar, mechanics, and spelling that they need to become effective write...
$32.95 $29.99
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4.0
4.0
Writing Openers and Fluency Toolkit provides two essential resources for upper elementary, middle school, and high school teachers. The first ser...
$24.95 $19.99
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4.0
2.0
Critical Thinking Openers helps 7th-12th grade students learn metacognitive (thinking about thinking) strategies and problem-solving skills. This...
$24.95 $19.99
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2.0
0.0
Get four resources designed to help students effectively respond to others essays and revise their own essays accordingly. The first resource, Qu...
$2.99
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0.0
English-language arts (ELA) teachers all face the same problems: too much to teach and too little time for students to learn. The traditional Bi...
$69.95 $49.99
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0.0
Rhetorical Stance Openers Toolkit helps upper elementary, middle school, and high school students learn and practice the elements of rhetorical s...
$24.95 $19.99
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169 total vote(s)
Ask Mark Pennington a question. They will receive an automated email and will return to answer you as soon as possible. Please Login to ask your question.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
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dbaker13 re: Essential Study Skills
Are the lessons printable?
May 17, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Yes, they are.
May 17, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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Amie Trahan  (TpT Seller)
Could you explain to me the difference between the "Teaching Grammar and Mechanics" and "The Grammar Toolkit"?
April 23, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Sure. The Grammar Toolkit is a slice of the comprehensive Teaching Grammar and Mechanics curriculum. The toolkit consists of the diagnostic mechanics and grammar assessments and corresponding worksheets. The Teaching Grammar and Mechanics curriculum gives you the direct instruction piece, along with the cool cartoons.
April 23, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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crouth re: Coherence, Unity, and Parallelism Worksheets
I would like you to send me suggested solutions to the writing practice in this packet I purchased from you. Thank you.
February 7, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Of course the plan is to re-work the writing samples in the packet you purchased. However, in terms of instructional approaches, I've found success with these:
For coherence... pair share asking for thumbs up if a sentence within paragraph is clear; thumbs down if not.
For unity... peer response highlighting any words, sentences off topic or thesis
For parallelism... use good models, such as the Gettysburg Address and check out my practice on grammatical sentence openers here: http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-improve-your-writing-style-with-grammatical-sentence-openers/ and model using similar parts of speech, inflected endings, and verb forms.
February 7, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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soccerfan649 re: Teaching Reading Strategies
The book references CDs. Is there a way to get these?
February 3, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Oops. Will need to delete that reference as I no longer offer these.
February 4, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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malissia re: Differentiated Spelling Instruction Grade 4
Hi, do you have this available for third grade?
January 31, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
No, only 4-8. Sorry.
January 31, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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lenund083178 re: Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (Level B)
Hi. I would really like to purchase your complete set: Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary for Second Grade but I cannot seem to find it. I am only able to find the individual pieces and the whole book for the upper grades. Please help.
Thank you,
Lena
hlunderhill@gmail.com
January 21, 2013 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Sorry. This is a 4th-8th grade series.
January 21, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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janjan8
Comment, but not a question:
I teach 5th grade and need lots of high -interest/controlled vocabulary leveled reading passages that will go with phonics and decoding lessons, as well as with reading comprehension skill lessons. Your materials are great, and I hope you will continue to create more. Thanks.
November 12, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Glad you find them useful.
January 31, 2013 Report inappropriate comment

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janjan8
I bought the first 16. Are you saying that you haven't finished making the rest?
November 11, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
I have, but my ace illustrator has not yet caught up with me. Thanks for your interest!
November 11, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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janjan8 re: Sam and Friends Phonics Books
I just purchased the “Teaching Reading Strategies” book from Pennington Publishing. I am interested in buying the 54-book set of “Sam and Friends” phonics books. I can’t seem to isolate them when I search on the Pennington website, and have been unable to find them any other way. Where might I preview the whole set and see the price?
November 11, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
I have the first 16 completed and they are available with previews right her on TpT.
November 11, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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lauren scalzo  (TpT Seller) re: Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Toolkit
Hello, This looks great but I was wondering if you had a scope and sequence available for it?
Thanks!
November 3, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
The instructional sequence follows the two assessments (included): the first being the phonemic awareness (more accurately the phonological awareness) and the second being the phonics assessment.

If you are looking for a comprehensive remedial reading program with a true scope and sequence, Teaching Reading Strategies is your source. This curriculum includes all found within the Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Toolkit and much more.

Thank you for your interest in Pennington Publishing materials.
November 3, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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sldieters re: Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (Level B)
I'm trying to decide which spelling program to buy! I am a fourth grade teacher. If I buy Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (B) would I also need to buy (A) or does the (b) version contain all the items from A?

Thank you,

Shelby
November 2, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
No, they are separate programs. Level A is the usual choice for fourth graders unless yours are quite precocious.
November 2, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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cibrown re: Phonics Study Cards
I noticed that the wh is reversed above the whale.
October 12, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Actually the /hw/ is correct. Remember that the / / indicates the sound, not the spelling. Sound it out and you'll see that it makes sense. The spellings are listed below the sound on each animal phonics card. The /w/ is wolf with the "w" spelling; the /hw/ is whale with the "wh_" spelling.
October 14, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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lhorton2 re: Teaching Essay Strategies
I have a special education class with kids who are LD and just behind somewhat. I have one freshman, one sophomore, 3 sixth and one seventh grade student. Each will move up a grade and still be mine to teach. Will this program teach them to write and still be something they can repeat or add to next year? Is there a grammar and language program or wrkbook to help them out? Leslie Horton
September 19, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Yes, my materials are designed to differentiate discussion. Think it might be better to email me on this one at mark@penningtonpublishing.com
September 19, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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jstick23 re: Teaching Reading Strategies
Thanks! What reading level does it go up to? I have 9th graders who are reading on levels of 3rd to 7th grade. Will this help them work their way to reading on grade level?
September 10, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
This is exactly the target audience. I taught four years of 9th grade remedial reading. The thirteen assessments will determine which areas of reading deficit each student has and the worksheets/activities enable the teacher to address each issue. Each fluency and comprehension worksheet has the first two paragraphs at the third grade reading level; the next two at the fifth grade reading level; and the last two at the seventh grade reading level: all expository text, by the way. Just what these students need.

I'm betting that you will find some major phonemic awareness and phonics deficits, however... Teaching to those deficits on an individual or small group basis while concurrently providing direct instruction and practice in comprehension and fluency will make a world of difference for these students.

Not to upsale you, but these students will also have significant spelling and vocabulary deficits. So Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary would be a hand in glove fit with Teaching Reading Strategies. Probably Level C would be my recommendation. The direct instruction at that level would be appropriate for all and the activities and resources to teach to the results of the spelling diagnostic assessment would perfectly complement those in Teaching Reading Strategies.
In sum, a quality reading intervention program at the freshman level should be balanced and include both encoding and decoding instruction.
September 10, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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jstick23 re: Teaching Reading Strategies
Is this mostly phonics, or is there a plethera of comprehension resources too?
September 10, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Indeed a plethora... a veritable cornucopia of activities and resources beyond phonics. 45 comprehension worksheets, fluency, syllabication, and more. The preview does a nice job of articulating what you get.
September 10, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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Jennifer Fickenscher  (TpT Seller) re: Reading Fluency and Comprehension Toolkit
Can I see an example of one of the corresponding comprehension worksheet? Thanks! Jaficky23@gmail.com
August 31, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Surely. Just email mark@penningtonpublishing.com. I will send a sample.
August 31, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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eyerves
Hello,
I am interested in the Grammar Toolkit, but I am wondering if I would be able to edit the downloaded pdf version? Could the pdf be converted into a Word file once I download it? The assessment sentences are formatted rather close together and may overwhelm my students. Basically, I am asking if I could put spaces in between the sentences for more "white space". Thank you,
Elizabeth
August 15, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
You can edit PDFs with a new Adobe product. You get one free conversion to Microsoft Word. It's not perfect, but pretty close.
August 15, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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kathicunningham re: Essay Strategies Toolkit
Mark, I teach expelled students (7-12th grades) in an urban setting. My goal this year is to focus on specific and concrete ways to improve their writing. It appears that your materials on teaching the essay will be invaluable. Does your Teaching Essay Strategies ($49) include Essay Strategies Toolkit ($19.95) and Writing Openers and Fluency Toolkit ($19.95)? The toolkits appear to be particularly useful but your description indicates they may be included in the $49 version. Please help me make a cost-effective selection. Thank. Kathi
June 25, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Kathi,

Yes, you are right. You get all of the resources in Teaching Essay Strategies.

Thank you in advance for your order,

Mark Pennington
Pennington Publishing
June 25, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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2teddybears re: Types of Sentences Worksheets
Dear Mr Pennington,
What a surprise to see your work here and I am very excited about. It was just last night that I found a website that had these same materials at a much higher price... I am a new 4th grade teacher and I have been teaching for over 25+ years. I grew up with sentence diagramming and I am looking for a resource that deals mainly with introducing sentence diagramming to fourth graders. You have so manyyyyyy different programs my head is spending with excitement but I am limited in my funds. So which 2-3 programs would you recommend for me to start with that mainly deals with sentence diagramming?
June 1, 2012 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Sounds like Teaching Grammar and Mechanics is your primary purchase. However, I would also recommend Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary Level A as this is the 4th grade level with differentiated instruction in those K-3 vowel sound-spelling patterns.

Thanks for asking,

Mark Pennington
Pennington Publishing
June 1, 2012 Report inappropriate comment

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ejbw re: Grammar Toolkit
I'm purchasing you Grammar Toolkit after going over the preview. I want to quit teaching what many (but not all) of the students already know. Looks like a manageable way to finally teach what they need. However, I need you to help me: Q.1 of Grammar Assessment - Why isn't "man" a correct choice? Your key indicates the correct answer as "her." I would think either is correct.
Thanking you in advance for your response!
ejbw
September 17, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Oops! The answer is man. Her would be a pronoun, of course. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. It is correct on my website. Suggest you download the grammar assessment at http://penningtonpublishing.com/assessments/Grammar%20Assessment.pdf on www.penningtonpublishing.com. Will fix on TpT.
September 17, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

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jstick23 re: Teaching Essay Strategies
Mark-how would you incorporate this into a high school RTI English class? How much time would you spend on this book?
July 8, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
One hour, per week... including three five-minute openers and three fifteen-minute writing worksheet/mini-conference settings. The latter suspended when you are working on any of the eight Common Core State Standard process essays.
This is perfect RTI, as it allows students to work at their own pace, and differentiates instruction via remedial worksheets from level to level, as needed.
And... don't forget, you get the very useful Essay e-Comments download with your Teaching Essay Strategies purchase.
July 9, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

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npotter re: Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (Level A)
Does the Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (Level A) product include the resources found in the Sight Words and Syllabication Toolkit?
May 22, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Yes, it does. You can buy the ebook on TpT or the print version in a huge three-ring binder from my site at www.penningtonpublishing.com.
May 22, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

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srboling re: Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary (Level A)
Is it possible to get this at a reduced price if the parts that focus on sound are omitted? My students are deaf.

Thanks.
May 1, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Sorry, I cannot oblige.
May 1, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

Lesson Plan SOS Teachers
Lesson Plan SOS Teachers  (TpT Seller)
Hello!
We are fellow sellers on TPT and came across your items (they are great!). We don't know if you've noticed, but we wanted to let you know that you have enabled your preview so customers can download your files without buying them. When we were adding our downloads we realized we made this mistake (too late!). Just a heads up to a fellow TPT seller!
Take care,
Lesson Plan SOS
January 15, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Thank you.
January 16, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

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lincolnfan re: Sight Words and Syllabication Toolkit
Hello,
This looks like an excellent product! Do you have pages that deal with the schwa sound? Can you elaborate a bit on the nature of the exercise?

Thank you!
Gabrielle
January 9, 2011 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Hello Gabrielle,

It just so happens that I taught three lessons on the schwa last week--weird coincidence. Yes, the syllable rules activity has the schwa, and yes, there is a syllables lesson on the schwa with worksheet.


Essentially, the first part of the book has the outlaw words, rimes, and sight-syllables diagnostic assessments (with answers and recording matrices), flashcards of these with activities.

The second section of the book is the transformers activity. Using nonsense syllables, students practice the open, closed, final e, digraphs rules whole class via a projector display. Incredible activity, helping students to inductively learn the rules by examples.
Check out more at http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-teach-syllabication-the-syllable-rules/

The third portion of the book has the syllable word lists and corresponding student worksheets. Here is where the schwa comes in... Real words to practice application of the rules, syllable division, and of course, syllable blending.

Mark
January 9, 2011 Report inappropriate comment

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BrazilMike re: Grammar Toolkit
Live in Brazil....can I get an e-book?
December 22, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Of course, the Internet unites us everywhere. Happy New Year!
December 22, 2010 Report inappropriate comment

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marybeth1421 re: Differentiated Spelling Instruction Grade 4
Does the differentiated spelling instruction have different spelling list for each lesson. A high one and a low one?
August 15, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
No, each list is based upon a spelling pattern. So there are no "hard" or "easy" words, per say. However, each list is designed to reflect grade-level vocabulary with a few challenge words.

The differentiation is derived from accompanying word lists, previous post-tests, and from student writing.

Of course, the spelling patterns for Level A (4th grade) are reviewed in Level B (5th grade), so their are different spelling pattern words; however, the high-low format would still not consistently apply.

Thank you for your inquiry. I think your students will benefit from Differentiated Spelling Instruction. Your remedial spellers will additionally benefit from the comprehensive Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary. Both found on TpT.
August 15, 2010 Report inappropriate comment

FluencyCounts
FluencyCounts  (TpT Seller)
Hi. In the fluency and comprehension unit that you have..is there a grade level for each of the passages? How many passages are there. Laura Lee
February 22, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
These are high interest, low level texts. Each is designed to progress by paragraphs from third through seventh grade.
October 2, 2010 Report inappropriate comment

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jaksetaj re: Teaching Essay Strategies
Mark - I looked through the samples pages to see if this is something I could use - can you show/send me the "How to Use this Guide" page(s)? I think that would help my decision knowing how to use the guide and more of what the sample pages "mean"
January 29, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Surely. Email me at mark@penningtonpublishing.com and I will send it out to you.
January 29, 2010 Report inappropriate comment

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joandpat re: Grammar Openers Toolkit
Does this product contain reproducible worksheets/activities?
January 26, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
Absolutely. 64 sentence lifting activities covering all grammar, mechanics, and spelling your kids need for success, including basic to advanced skills for every grade level. But, why not upgrade to the entire curriculum, Teaching Grammar and Mechanics, which includes the openers and much more for a few dollars more.
January 26, 2010 Report inappropriate comment

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hcl2oo1 re: Teaching Grammar and Mechanics
Mark, which version do you recommend
Teaching Grammar and Mechanics (Digital Version) or
How to Teach Grammar and Mechanics?
January 10, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
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Mark Pennington  (TpT Seller)
The Teaching Grammar and Mechanics (Digital Version) is the PDF version. The Teaching Grammar and Mechanics is the hard-bound three-ring binder version. Both are the same quality resource. Thank you.
January 10, 2010 Report inappropriate comment
TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Mark has twenty four years of teaching experience in the elementary middle school, high school, and community college settings. He currently serves as a middle school English-language arts teacher and reading specialist in Elk Grove Unified School District, outside of Sacramento.

MY TEACHING STYLE

Assessment-based instruction to help students "catch up" while they concurrently "keep up" with grade-level standards.

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

Eagle Scout Phi Beta Kappa Award Magna cum Laude Mildred Dawson Award (best MA thesis in the field of children's literature)

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

His MA Education (Reading Specialist) is out of the California State University at Sacramento. Mark received his teaching credential at the University of California at Los Angeles after graduating Magna cum Laude from the University of Southern California. Go Trojans!

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Mark Pennington is an educational author, presenter, reading specialist, and middle school teacher. He encourages teachers to differentiate instruction in reading/English-language arts. Mark presents at educational conferences and provides staff in-services in the areas of reading intervention, spelling/vocabulary, grammar/mechanics, and essay writing. Mark has served as series editor and author for the Better in 5 Minutes series for Random House. He has also authored curricula to tell teachers differentiate instruction, including Teaching Essay Strategies, Teaching Grammar and Mechanics, Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary, Teaching Reading Strategies, and Essential Study Skills for his own Pennington Publishing.