Quick Look: Teaching Grammar Inside a Phonics Lesson

Lisa Glickman: After we do the words, we're going to think about is the word a who or a what? Right. Is it a noun? Does it tell us who or what? Or is it something that you can do? Is it a did what? Is it a verb? An action? Okay. Are you ready? The word is hoist. What's the word?

Students: Hoist.

Lisa Glickman: Hoist. Everybody say, "To hoist is to lift."

Students: "To hoist is to lift."

Lisa Glickman: So if I was saying, "I need to lift this heavy box," I could also say, "I need to hoist this heavy box." Hoist is to lift. So is that a who or a what? Or is hoist something that you could do, a did what? What do you think?

Students: [overlapping voices] Did what.

Lisa Glickman: Did what. Good job. Your next word is boy. What's the word?

Students: Boy.

Lisa Glickman: Is boy a who or a what? Or a did what? Everybody on three. Let's see. Who or what or did what? [counts silently by holding up her fingers]

Students: Who.

Lisa Glickman: It's a who. It's telling us who. Good. Are you ready for your last word?

Students: Yes.

Lisa Glickman: The word is point. What's the word?

Students: Point.

Lisa Glickman: Is point a who or a what? Or a did what? Everybody think. What do you think?

Students: Did what.

Lisa Glickman: Okay. Can I point at something? Is that something I can do?

Students: Yes.

Lisa Glickman: It is a did what, but guess what? May I borrow this? What is this?

Students: A point!

Lisa Glickman: It's a point of a pencil. So guess what? The word point can be a what. And it can be ... and it could be a did what. You're right.