How to Teach Mechanics and Editing Using Mechanics Instruction that Sticks and Supplements - DSJR One Stop Shop

In 2015, I announced the publication of Doug Stark's Mechanics Instruction that Sticks curriculum series with the following words from Doug:

English teachers are, in my humble opinion, the hardest working people in public education. We have the unenviable task of trying to convince a generation of kids raised on electronic devices and nursed by spell check to slow down and write with purpose and precision. We see ourselves as the last line of defense against the continual erosion of the language, and we try to teach our kids to avoid all of the dreaded errors – the run-on, the forgotten apostrophe, the misplaced modifier – that threaten to reduce our language into an incomprehensible stew of unpunctuated gibberish filled with text-friendly abbreviations and inscrutable emojis.

Since then, Doug has expanded the initial MITS book into a focused line of resources:

The Mechanics Instruction that Sticks Series, Levels A-D (includes assessments)
Mechanics Instruction that Sticks supplements
- Editing Practice that Sticks
- The MITS Sentence Structure Posters
- Just the Sentence Structures

The Mechanics Instruction that Sticks Series, Levels A-D

What the MITS series is:

The basic premise underlying the Mechanics Instruction That Sticks workbook series is that older students (grades 7-12) need direct instruction and practice if we expect them to get better at writing clear sentences. Therefore, each unit begins with direct instruction via guided notes. Then, a series of practice activities requires students to apply that knowledge as they make corrections and draft sentences. Visual models, along with sample sentences, guide students as they learn how to properly punctuate simple, compound, and complex sentences. The exercises included in the MITS series generally take about 10-20 minutes to complete because they follow a four-step process:

Students activate background knowledge.
Students apply the background knowledge to a few sentences.
Students create sentences following a model.
Students complete a brief review exercise.

To purchase Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, click here. (Please note that you have the option to save money by purchasing multiple levels of the product.)

For a treatment of the science of Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, click here.
For a treatment of the underlying principles of Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, click here.

Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, Level A:

This workbook is designed for middle school level students (7th or 8th grades). The exercises begin with a review of subjects and verbs, move on to phrases and clauses, and then transition into units on punctuation (fragments, run-ons, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes). The final units deal with problems with agreement and tense consistency.

This level is designed to hammer home the basics. The emphasis is on writing complete sentences that are punctuated correctly.

To purchase MITS Level A for $25, click here. (Please note that you have the option to save money by purchasing multiple levels of the product.)

Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, Level B:

This workbook is designed for middle school and/or high school level students (8th or 9th grades). The workbook reviews many of the concepts from Level A. The exercises begin with a review of phrases and clauses, and then transition into review units on punctuation (fragments, run-ons, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes) and agreement. New units on dashes, parallelism, and wordiness are included.

This level is designed to build on the knowledge presented in Level A. The emphasis is on writing complete sentences that are punctuated correctly; new units introduce ideas related to clarity and writing style.

To purchase MITS Level B for $25, click here. (Please note that you have the option to save money by purchasing multiple levels of the product.)

Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, Level C:

This workbook is designed for high school level students (9th or 10th grades). The workbook reviews many of the concepts from Levels A & B before transitioning into units on clarity. The exercises begin with a review of phrases and clauses, and then transition into review units on punctuation (fragments, run-ons, commas, semicolons, colons, dashes, apostrophes) and agreement. New units focus on using active voice, avoiding wordiness and redundancy, avoiding awkward constructions, and using parallel structure in comparisons and lists.

This level is designed to build on the knowledge presented in Level A & B while placing more emphasis on the elements of clarity. Teachers using Level C should feel free to reduce the length of review units based on student needs.

To purchase MITS Level C for $25, click here. (Please note that you have the option to save money by purchasing multiple levels of the product.)

Mechanics Instruction that Sticks, Level D:

This workbook is designed for high school level students (10th or 11th). The workbook offers a quicker review of many of the concepts from Levels A -C before transitioning into units on clarity. The exercises begin with a review of phrases and clauses, and then transition into review units on punctuation and agreement. Half of the units focus on using active voice, avoiding wordiness and redundancy, avoiding awkward constructions, using parallel structure, crafting logical sentences, and avoiding common usage errors.

This level places more emphasis on the elements of clarity. Teachers using Level D should feel free to reduce the length of review units based on student needs.

To purchase MITS Level D for $25, click here. (Please note that you have the option to save money by purchasing multiple levels of the product.)

Just the Sentence Structures

This workbook is all about simplicity. Each exercise focuses on one element of the MITS series: writing clear, properly punctuated sentences using a visual model. Because these exercises focus entirely on creating sentences, they take less time and require less direct instruction.

How each teacher uses these warm-ups is up to him/her:

Teachers could use this book as a supplement to the Mechanics Instruction That Sticks series. They could use these exercises in place of some of the warm-ups from the MITS series…
- OR
Teachers could use this book as a stand-alone resource. If teachers tie these warm-ups to their writing and editing instruction, they should see improvement in their students’ ability to write clear, accurate sentences.

To purchase Just the Sentence Structures for $20, click here.

Editing Practice that Sticks

The Editing Practice That Sticks unit is a bit different from the normal MITS workbook. Each of the activities has a front and a back. These activities are designed to provide some brief instruction on the focus area prior to a writing or editing activity. On the back of each activity I have included a space for a timed written response (I call it a quickwrite. I know that is not an actual word, but I like that name). However, you do NOT need to use the quickwrites with every editing activity.

I’ve also included some useful editing checklists that you can use as you see fit. You can use the focus area checklists to help you edit a current piece of writing. For example, if you have a paragraph due from the previous night, you might just print out a checklist and use that as your warm-up activity for the day.
Use these brief editing activities as you see fit. I have placed them on separate pages so you can mix and match, or if you already use Mechanics Instruction That Sticks, you can replace or supplement instruction. Do not feel like you must use all four activities. The basic purpose of these activities is to train the students to be active, engaged editors of text.

To purchase Editing Practice that Sticks for $20, click here.

The MITS Sentence Structure Posters

These sixteen posters are designed for classroom use. They include visual models of the different sentence structures, along with three sample sentences that correspond with each structure. The posters are designed to be printed on tabloid paper (11 X 17). Once you have printed them off, you can group the sentence structure and model sentences together on posterboard, or you can hang them as you see fit. You will receive both a PDF and an editable version, so you can make changes as you wish.

To purchase the MITS Sentence Structure Posters for $12, click here.

What do teachers think of Mechanics Instruction that Sticks and Supplemental Materials?

Here's what folks have to say about the MITS Series and its supplements:

“I feel that [these warm-ups are] really helping my students understand! I haven't had success with the mechanics of grammar before.”
“Our whole department has been using [these warm-ups] for the past nine weeks, and I think it is the perfect amount of time on each [unit]!”
“This is a great, no fuss resource. My students are used to the routine of completing these as soon as they come into class, and are taking a great deal from the work.”
“I love the ability to do it quickly a few days a week but also that I can get multiple kids involved in a short time period.”
“I love the quick hit on grammar every day. The repetition is working great to help the kids remember the concepts, and the topics are just right.”
“The warm-up is quite direct. It constantly builds on previous lessons. My adult education students who are studying for their GEDs love this approach and they edit their own writing with more confidence. Confidence is always an issue in our writing classes. This simple tool has helped my students demonstrate that they are aware of how sentences are or can be assembled. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. By the way I constantly sing the praises of this product so there should be some orders coming your way.”
“I struggle with integrating all the various grammar concepts into my daily lessons. This resource enables me to address grammar concepts clearly and simply in my daily lessons. The students are responding well and seem to understand the “whys” of grammar and how it connects to communication in writing. Thank you so much for making this excellent tool available.”
“I've been really happy with this product. It has been helpful that I can focus on setting up a common vocabulary about this aspect of the curriculum with students and is flexible enough that I can pick and choose the aspects the class needs.”
“It's ready made. Consistent and repetitive. What kids needs to stay fresh with grammar.”

Doug and I have created this work for ourselves and for anyone else looking for solutions to this tricky problem of helping students attain mechanical proficiency with their writing. We hope it helps.

Teaching right beside you,

DSJR