Although it is now Out of Print, it can be found as part of:  It-ss and Tooze, Apostrophes, and The I Before E Rule Made easy.

This is a series of exercises in which the students get to correct their answers immediately, but also must give reasons for their answers.  Being right is not enough.  They need to know why they are right.  After all, it's a 50/50 shot on its or it's.  And one out of three with the their, there, and they're is a good batting average in baseball--but not in spelling.

The lessons begin with a lesson on how we speed up our speech by running words together. 

For example we could say very slowly:

Or we could say it faster like this:

Or we could say it even faster like this:

Or faster yet like this:

Once the concept of running words together can be shown by using apostrophes, we give the students practice in showing what the words are that are run together as in the abbreviated exercise below.

Once the concept of running words together  by using apostrophes, we then give the students practice in using the apostrophe to show possession.   Then we give them practice with both.   Notice that in the exercises the student not only must get the correct spelling but must place it in the correct column.

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If you have comments about this website or questions concerning spelling, phonics, learning disabilities, homeschooling, etc., you may always e-mail DonMcCabe@aol.com.  We appreciate any comments that will help us make this website even more useful. 

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3084 Willard Road, Suite W
Birch Run, MI 48415-9404