Giggles in the Middle: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Middle School (Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle) (Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle) (Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle) (Paperback)

by Jane Bell Kiester (Author) "The Caught'ya method is an integrated approach to teaching language skills in context..." (more)
Key Phrases: sam sagacious, dean dread, grammar grouch, Other Skills, Writing Idea, Mechanics Guide (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Jane Bell Kiester, author of the popular Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle series, has adapted her effective and fun approach to meet the specific learning needs of middle-school students.

Giggles in the Middle gives middle-school teachers the perfect alternative to boring grammar books and dry lectures. With this flexible, proven approach to teaching grammar, usage, and mechanics (GUM) skills and vocabulary, everyone has fun while they learn skills in context.

You'll find:
- One continuous story, "The Bizarre Mystery of Horribly Hard Middle School," divided into three parts, each with enough sentences for an entire school year.
- Classroom-tested writing assignment suggestions, mini-lessons, and teaching tips.
- "Almost midterm" and final exam tests for each grade, with teacher keys.
- Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
- Complete vocabulary lists for words used in each part of the story.
- For easy reference and duplication, a CD with the Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Guide; the complete, uninterrupted story in narrative form; the midterm and final exam tests; and the Caught'ya sentences.

Use Giggles in the Middle to improve writing and editing skills, raise test scores, engage students in leaning, and create classrooms filled with giggles!

About the Author
Jane Kiester is the author of the popular Caught'ya books: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle; Caught'ya Again! More Grammar with a Giggle; The Chortling Bard! Grammar with a Giggle for High School; Giggles in the Middle: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Middle School; Eggbert, the Ball, Bounces by Himself: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for First Grade; Putrescent Petra Finds Friends: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Second Grade; and Juan and Marie Join the Class: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Third Grade (these last three were formerly Elementary, My Dear! Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Grades 1, 2, and 3), all published by Maupin House. Teachers all over the country also use the new edition of her third book, Blowing Away the State Writing Assessment Test, to help improve their students' scores on state writing assessment tests. Jane's newest book is Teach Spelling So It Sticks! Quick and Clever Ways That Work for Grades 4-8.

In addition to writing books, Jane has given hundreds of workshops to fellow teachers around the country for the past ten years. Her subject? The same as in her classroom, where she happily taught elementary or middle school for more than 30 years -- teaching students to write well.

In her three decades as a classroom teacher, Jane has served many years as various department chairpersons and grade-level chairperson. She is also a past president of the Alachua County Teachers of English. Jane has been recognized three times by "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." In 2002 she won Teacher of the Year for her school and Middle School Teacher of the Year for her county.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Maupin House Publishing, Inc. (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929895886
• ISBN-13: 978-0929895888
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,330 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great teaching tool, May 16, 2007

By	New Teacher (Illinois) - See all my reviews

I am a first year teacher and just accepted a job for next year teaching both math and language arts in the 7th grade. I have never taught language arts before and was looking for motivating ideas when I came across this book. I bought it 3 days ago and have read the whole book already. Kiester does a great job of breaking down the activities and explaining exactly how to use "Caught-Ya" in your classroom. The book includes all of the corrections for each "Caught-Ya", as well as some explainations for why the corrections need to be made. The CD which is included allows you to print out the daily sentences and easily put them on transparencies. The CD also includes a great grammer review resource for those new teachers, like myself, who could use a refresher on some of the terminology as well as suggestions for introducing and reviewing the parts of grammer without boring your students with all the terminology. I am excited about using this technique in teaching my class next year. Wish me luck!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Silly Fun!, May 12, 2007

By	Ms. Scott - See all my reviews

I am "testing" this out with my class of gifted fourth-graders, and they love it! They enjoy getting to know a little bit more each day about the kids at Horribly Hard Middle School as well as dream about going to Magic Middle School. What surprised me most was the vocabulary piece. The words are well chosen and well placed. Often I find "challenging" vocabulary to just be wacky- words that we don't hear in our everyday lives. This book, however, keeps the students' interest regarding strong, usable vocabulary. They WANT to look the words up in the dictionary so they have a better understanding of the story, the puns involved, or just to be the one to get to read from the dictionary. We are only on day 16 of the program and I can already see results in the students' own writing.

Teacher's Request to Publisher: Please print a version of this in a binder or spiral format! The little paperback book is a bit hard to hold for reference while writing on the board and teaching the kids (but worth it!). I would pay for it again! :)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars love the caughtya's, June 4, 2008

By	Tamara Caruso - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the third "Caught 'Ya" book I've purchased - my kids LOVE this idea, and they are LEARNING!