Re: teaching tense to a 9 year old

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  • Rebekah P
    Participant

    My daughter is having a difficult time using the correct tense with certain words.  For example, she’ll use sended instead of sent and stinked instead of stunk.  It’s gotten to the point where younger public school children are starting to correct her (aghhhh!!)  She is an excellent reader and she tends to be very good at LA, but she seems to mix up mostly the past tense endings. 

    In the past we have used Primary and Intermediate Language lessons, Classical Writing and a little but of First Language Lessons.  I’m starting to think I need to use a more formal grammar program for next year that may cover more of the basics.  I was planning on using JAG next year, but it doesn’t cover verb tense. 

    So…Can any of you recommend a curriculum or just some ideas on how to work with her individually?  Again I am open to any suggestions, even if it’s just waiting it out especially if you had a child that overcame this at an older age.

    Thanks so much

    Rebekah

    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Do you mean verbal usage or written or both? I would be consistant and keep correcting her EVERY time she says it wrong and she should finally learn it right.

    Rebekah P
    Participant

    Mostly it’s verbal, although I would think she would write it incorrectly as well.    She was very surprised that she was incorrect.  I think she is over using -ed as past tense.  I guess I need to teach her the irregular past tense endings, but I would like to have a guide that contains a list of them.  Any suggestions?

    Thanks

    Bookworm
    Participant

    This is very common in children under 5 but most children pick it up from hearing it by 9.  You really don’t need a guide.  You can find lists of irregulars online.  Just pick the, say, five most commonly mistaken by her, and then ALL OF YOU USE THEM CORRECTLY.  Make a point of doing it.  Multiple times a day.  Until she can do it without thinking about it.  Then pick another 5.  Does she have trouble reading irregularly spelled words?  English is kind of fun because you learn a set of rules (Here is how you make past tense) and then you have to partially UNlearn it.  🙂  

    Rebekah P
    Participant

    Thanks, Bookworm.  You were right about the list of irregulars online.  Ohhhhhhh, there are so many. 

    Rebekah

    Hi Rebekah P. I hope it isn’t too late yet. My younger sister has a hard time recognizing the verb tenses, until now. As her personal tutor, I find time to teach her with the use of flash cards. I show her cards that have the verbs with their corresponding tenses. It has been an effective method for her to memorize or familiarize with the verb tenses.

     

    Evangeline Smile

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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