Write English Right: An Esl Homonym Workbook

Rating:
Summary: Write English Right
Review: As an ESL/ELL Teacher, I found this book to be great with struggling writers. The book format presents the objectives very clear, and if delivered the right way, kids will be hooked on the book and how quickly they can comrehend and utilize such homonyms in story, book reviews, and any other type of writing.
I would also recomend this book to English teachers in the regular curriculum, for a lot of Anglo students have problems with homonyms as well.

Rating:
Summary: Ya-hoooooo for a great book to teach homonyms!
Review: I applaud Barron's Educational Publishing for coming up with such a great book! This isn't a general grammar book, but cuts to the chase re: homonyms.

It's touted as an ESL Homonym Workbook, but I've used it in my first grade classroom. This does not mean it looks down on the non-English speaker, but it is a universal text for people of all ages who are looking to master English as a language.

The set-up of each page is simple in design and allows a teacher to isolate words. For example, "pail" and "pale" are listed. Below the heading of words, each is listed with its definition, as well as 3 sentences to show how the word should be used. Below that, practice exercises are listed. These include 5 sentences with a blank in each. The student reads the sentence and determines which homonym is best suited for the sentence. Below that there are 2-3 lines to allow students to write their own sentences. At the very bottom of the page and upside down, answers to the first exercise are listed.

If any words used on the page were previously used in another exercise, there is a box on the right saying "Previously Used Words."

I think this is a great teaching tool, and it has allowed me to work one-on-one with students. Where there was once confusion, these exercises have allowed my students to grasp the concept.