Subject-verb agreement sounds easy, doesn’t it? A singular subject takes singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Yet The Copyeditor's Handbook lists no fewer than 25 cases that aren't so clear-cut, and Garner's Modern American Usage devotes nearly 5 columns to the topic. Even the comparatively diminutive Grammar Smart devotes five pages (including quizzes) to the topic. What makes subject-verb agreement so hard?  Continue reading...

If you are asking too many questions, would you rather be called “curious” or “nosy”? Even though these words have similar meanings, they have very different connotations. This week’s two-page worksheet presents students with twelve pairs of words with similar definitions but different connotations.  Continue reading...

If your students are looking to read a book in which words play an important role in the plot, then here are two great suggestions:

• Frindle by Andrew Clements
  
  
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

The Visual Thesaurus will have an exhibit at the 2011 Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Visit us at Booth #845! Click here for conference details.

For Black History Month, try using the Visual Thesaurus to help explore notable African American writings. Check out this lesson plan designed to help students interpret figurative language in Toni Morrison's novel A Mercy.

The Visual Thesaurus will have an exhibit at the 2011 Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) at the Austin Convention Center. Visit us at Booth #1944! Click here for conference details.

If I'm feeling "down" or overwhelmed, nothing improves my mood faster than cleaning a desk, a drawer or a closet. Call me deranged, but I adore organizing. Perhaps that's why I was so happy a few years ago to stumble across the marvelous website Unclutterer hosted by Erin Doland. I skim through it every day.

Now, after interviewing her for this article I am, frankly, gobsmacked.  Continue reading...