1. The Commas Program: An Interactive CD for Students
Authors: Jean Schumaker & Jan Sheldon
Publisher: Edge Enterprises, Inc.

2. Today’s Goals: To familiarize you with: The Commas Program content
The CD structure
Your role as a teacher
The instructor’s manual
How to get organized
The research

4. This Program is Based on Strategic Instruction
Learning strategies
Instructional methods

5. Learning Strategies
Include the way a person thinks and acts when performing a learning task.

6. Commas Strategies Taught
Step-by-step procedures to follow when checking sentences for a given rule
Mnemonic devices (poem, FIRST-Letter mnemonic device)

7. The Poem

8. (Commas in compound sentences.)
Lesson 1: Commas like to introduce.
(Commas after introductory words or clauses.)
Lesson 2: Commas like to hang in groups.
(Commas in a series.)
Lesson 3: Commas like to make a match.
(Commas in compound sentences.)
Lesson 4: Commas like to take out trash.
(Commas around appositives and adjective clauses.)
Lesson 5: Commas like to be in conversations.
(Commas in quotations.)
Lesson 6: Commas like to be in places, dates, and salutations.
(Commas in places, dates, and salutations.)

9. Instructional Methods
Provide a building process across lessons where students learn a new skill but also integrate it with previously learned skills.

10. The Whole Commas Program
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Review A
Lesson 3
Review B
Lesson 4
Review C
Lesson 5
Review D
Lesson 6
Review E

11. Basic Instructional Methods for Teaching Strategies
Describe
Model
Verbal Practice
Controlled Practice
Advanced Practice

12. Lesson Parts

13. Lesson Format: Four Main Parts in Each Lesson
• Learn It
(Describe)
• Watch It
(Model)
• Say It
(Verbal Practice)
• Practice It
(Controlled Practice)
(Advanced Practice)

14. What about progress monitoring?
Pretest & Posttest
Quiz at the end of “Say It” (100% criterion)
Controlled Practice activities (100% on two activities in a row)
Advanced Practice activities (100% on one activity)

15. Let’s get started: Watch the Welcome

17. Lesson 1: Commas Like to Introduce

18. Learn It

19. Lesson Format: Learn It
Introduction
Commas like to ______
Concept #1
Definition
Examples
Practice Activity
Concept #2
Concept #N
Definition
Examples
Practice Activity
Be Careful!
Strategy Steps
Closing
Lesson format: Learn It [Does this look okay??? Shall I change it to one column, even thought it will be much smaller font?]

20. Example of a “Learn It” Screen

21. “Commas like to Introduce” means…
Use a comma after an introductory word or phrase

22. Introductory Words/Phrases
Words that begin a sentence
Words that start the sentence in a graceful way
Words that give the reader important information

23. Types of Introductory Words/phrases
Transition Words
Adjective Phrases
Adverbial Phrases
Prepositional Phrases
Dependent Clauses

24. Transition Words Are the first word of the sentence
Tie together sentences and paragraphs in a graceful way
Examples:
First, Finally, Nevertheless, In fact

25. Example Sentences
First, I will explain the types of introductory words.
Finally, they announced the winner of the prize.

26. Introductory Adverb Phrase
Begins a sentence
Starts with an adverb
Adverb
A word that
• tells more about a verb
• tells how an action is done
Example Adverbs:
Quickly, Carefully, Happily,

27. Example Adverb Phrases
Quickly running through the grass
Carefully counting the money
Slowly walking home after school

28. Example Sentences Quickly running, the fox got away.
Softly singing, she rocked the baby to sleep.
Sadly, he put the dead plants in the trash.

29. Introductory Adjective Phrase
Begins a sentence
Begins with an adjective
Adjective
A word that:
• Tells more about a noun
• Describes how something looks, sounds, or feels
Examples:
Big, Happy, Loud, Young, Rough, Smooth

30. Example Adjective Phrases
Big and strong
Colorful and bright
Joyful and smiling

31. Example Sentences Big and bright, the sun beat down on us.
Brown and sticky, the cookie dough covered our fingers.
Joyful and smiling, Sam leaped over the gate.

32. Introductory Prepositional Phrase
A group of words that:
Begins the sentence and
Starts with a preposition
Preposition:
A word that shows location, direction, or time.
Examples:
Over, Under, Before, After
(Bee in the Bottle Handout)

33. Example Prepositional Phrases
Over the rainbow
Under the bed
Along the river

34. Example Sentences Before the dance, Jesse took Anar to dinner.
Over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.
Before the dance, Jesse took Anar to dinner.
Inside the house, we were warm.

35. Introductory Dependent Clause
Begins a sentence
Starts with a subordinating conjunction
Has a subject and a verb
Subordinating Conjunction:
A word that starts a dependent clause
Examples:
Although, If, Because, When

36. Example Dependent Clauses
Although they were late
If you get there on time
Because she is a star

37. Example Sentences
If you want to go to the party, you will need to clean your room.
Because Sidney practiced hard, she will play in the game on Saturday.

38. The Signal Words (The TAAPS Words)
Transitions
Adverbs
Adjectives
Prepositions
Subordinating conjunctions

39. Be careful! Make sure the word is at the beginning of the sentence:
Boys can eat first today.
Make sure you check for the WHOLE introductory phrase:
Quickly jumping over the fence, Sophie chases the rabbit.

40. The Steps Check for the WHOLE phrase
Look for a “TAAPS” Word
Check for the WHOLE phrase
Add a comma after the WHOLE phrase

41. Lesson Format: Learn It
Introduction
Commas like to ______
Concept #1
Definition
Examples
Practice Activity
Concept #2
Concept #N
Definition
Examples
Practice Activity
Be Careful!
Strategy Steps
Closing
Lesson format: Learn It [Does this look okay??? Shall I change it to one column, even thought it will be much smaller font?]

42. Watch “Learn It” for Lesson 1

43. A Word About Pass Codes
When the students “quit” the program, they receive a pass code.
They record the pass code on the Pass Code list.
They enter the pass code the next time they use the program to take them to the screen where they stopped work.

44. Lesson Format: Watch It
Introduction/Review
Example #1
Example #2
Example #3
Example #N
Closing

45. Example of a “Watch It” Screen

46. Another Example of “Watch It”

47. Look at “Watch It” for Lesson 1

48. Lesson Format: Say It Introduction/Review Activity #1 Directions
Activity #N
Closing

49. Example of a “Say It” Screen

50. Look at “Say It” for Lesson 1

51. Let’s Take a Quiz!

52. Lesson Format: Practice It
Introduction/Review
Practice Level #1
All sentences require commas.
Practice Level #2
Some sentences require commas.
Practice Level #3
Students write sentences.
Closing

53. Mastery Requirements Level 1 - Two sets in a row at 100%
Level 3 - One set at 100%

54. Options for Level 3 Practice
Student types sentences onto screen and prints out sentences to be graded later by the teacher.
Student types sentences onto screen, and the teacher grades sentences on the screen.
Student prints out worksheets and writes sentences by hand.
Teacher prints out worksheets and distributes them.

55. Example of “Practice It” Activity

56. Look at “Practice It” for Lesson 1

58. Lesson 2: Commas Like to Hang in Groups
Commas separate three or more items in a series

59. Example Items in a Series
Shoes, shirts, and socks
Pam, Jamal, Bill, or Jeannie

60. Types of Words in Series The “NAAV” Words
Nouns
Adjectives
Adverbs
Verbs

61. Nouns
People
Animals
Places
Things

62. Example Sentences Mike, Jim, and Keith worked hard all day.
The dogs, including Sophie, Blaze, Jackson, and Buffy, jumped with joy.
I went to the grocery store, post office, and bank.
I bought shoes, a blouse, and pants at the store.

63. Adjective A word that tells more about a noun Examples:
Shiny, black, knobby, noisy

64. Example Sentences The girl had long, silky, curly, brown hair.
The black, spotted, barking dog leaped over the fence and ran after the cat.

65. Adverb A word that tells more about a verb Examples:
Happily, sadly, funnily, speedily

66. Example Sentences
The wind blew fiercely, violently, and loudly during the storm.
Eli ran swiftly, effortlessly, and serenely over the fields.

67. Verb A word that shows Physical action Dance, jump, run Mental action
Think, plan, imagine

68. Example Sentences
The girls did not cry, yell, or scream during the movie.
Scott imagined, thought about, and designed his future house.
The dog leaped into the water, swam around, and jumped onto the river bank.

69. “and” and “or” The NAAV Words: Nouns Adjectives Adverbs Verbs
The Signal Words
“and” and “or”
The NAAV Words:
Nouns
Adjectives
Adverbs
Verbs

70. Be careful! Don’t use commas to separate two items:
The girls and boys went to the movies.
The pretty blond lady smiled at you.
Watch for items of two or more words.
The boy went to the gas station, discount store, and athletic club.

71. The Steps
Look for “and” and “or” and three or more NAAV words in a series.
Check for the WHOLE item.
Add commas between the items.

72. Let’s Take a Quiz !

73. Let’s Do Some Practice !

75. Lesson 3: Commas Like to Make a Match
A comma joins two independent clauses.

76. Independent Clause A group of words that:
Contains a subject and a verb
Can stand alone as a complete sentence
Makes sense

77. Example Independent Clause
The boy walked to the store.
Samuel put his car in reverse gear.
The trees were waving in the breeze.

78. NOT Independent Clauses
Walked to the store.
The tall blond boy to the store.
Stomping through the snow.

79. Joining 2 Independent Clauses
The boy walked to the store.
He bought milk.
Compound Sentence:
The boy walked to the store, and
he bought milk.

80. Coordinating Conjunction
A word used to join 2 independent clauses:
(the FAN BOYS Words)
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So

81. Example Compound Sentences
Timothy closed the door quietly, for his mother was asleep.
I looked in the mailbox, and the letter had arrived.
The girls did not sleep, nor did they rest.
I have tickets to the game, but I cannot go.
You will have to tell him soon, or Cara will be upset.
My father had a cold, yet he went skiing.
Open the windows, so we can have some fresh air.

82. Matchmaker
A person who is hired to bring two people together, for example, as in marriage.
Commas are matchmakers because they bring two independent clauses together to join them in a compound sentence.

83. Be Careful! Make sure you have two independent clauses in a sentence.
Make sure the FANBOYS Word joins two independent clauses.
She bought a gift for her friend.
Jan and I are sisters.
Kira tried but got nothing done.
You can have ice cream or cake.
The war has not yet begun.
She has been gone for so long.

84. The Steps Check for two Independent Clauses.
Look for a FAN BOYS Word.
Check for two Independent Clauses.
Add a comma before the FAN BOYS Word.

85. Let’s Take a Quiz !

86. Let’s Do Some Practice !

88. Lesson 4: Commas Like to Take out Trash
Commas separate repeated or not-needed information from the rest of the sentence.
Appositives, Non-restrictive Clauses

89. Appositive A word or group of words that:
Describes, renames, or adds more information about a noun or a pronoun
Are different from other words in the sentence
Are not needed in the sentence to understand its meaning

90. Example Appositives Lahla, my best friend, just got contact lenses.
Tim’s car, a beat-up junker, has run well for 30 years.
The tsunami, a huge wave caused by an earthquake, killed thousands of people.

91. Placement of Appositives
• At the beginning of a sentence:
My only sister, Janice came to visit.
• In the middle of a sentence:
The Starlight Theatre, an outdoor theater, is very popular in the summer.
• At the end of the sentence: I gave the money to Ernesto, Suzanna’s best friend.

92. Be Careful!
Don’t use commas when the reader might be confused or when the information is really needed in the sentence.
• My teacher Mr. Penn gave us lots of homework tonight.
• The country Greece is very hot in the summer.

93. Non-restrictive Adjective Clause
A group of words that:
• Begins with “who” or “which”
• Provides additional information about a noun
• Contains not-needed information

94. Example Non-restrictive Adjective Clause in a Sentence
The boys, who had on T-shirts, watched TV all day.
Colby, who is 21 years old, gives Scott French lessons.
The car, which has four wheels, is sitting in front of the house.

95. Be Careful! Don’t use a comma with a restrictive adjective clause:
A group of words that:
• Starts with “who” or “which”
• Is needed to make the sentence meaningful.

96. Example Restrictive Clause
Give this money to the girl who is wearing the red dress.
Please give me all the books which have broken covers.
Everyone who has blond hair should stand at the end of the line.

97. Be Careful! Never use a comma with a clause that begins with “that.”
The team that wins the tournament will take home a huge trophy.

98. The Signal Words
“Who”
“Which”

99. The Steps
Look for an appositive or adjective clause (“who” and “which”).
Check that the information is not needed.
Add one or two commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

100. Let’s Take a Quiz !

101. Let’s Do Some Practice !

103. Lesson 5: Commas Like to be in Conversations
Use commas to separate the actual words that people say from the rest of the sentence.

104. Quotation • The actual words that people say.
• Contained in quotation marks.
• Separated from the rest of the sentence with at least one comma.
Examples:
Latisha said, “Please buy me some ice cream.”
Samuel reported, “The snow is three feet deep!”

105. Not Quotations Latisha asked for some ice cream.
Samuel reported the depth of the snow.

106. “That”
The word “that” is a signal that the exact words said are not shown.
Examples:
Tim told me that he likes Dwanna.
Patricia yelled that she wanted us to come over.

107. Three Types of Quotations
At the beginning of a sentence
At the end of a sentence
At the beginning and end of a sentence
(Split in the middle)

108. At the Beginning of a Sentence
The comma is INSIDE the quotation marks.
Examples:
“Please come to my game,” Peter pleaded.
“Your mother called for you,” Sara reported.

109. Be Careful! Don’t use a comma with an exclamation point (!) or
a question mark (?) when the quotation is at the beginning of the sentence.
Examples:
“Stop that!” yelled Paul.
“Where are you going?” asked Petula.

110. At the End of a Sentence The comma is OUTSIDE the quotation marks.
Examples:
Tyler stated, “We are going to be late for the dance.”
Kevin yelled to the workers, “Speed up your work!”

111. At the Beginning and End (Split in the Middle)
Beginning IN; End OUT
For the quote at the beginning of the sentence, put the comma INSIDE the quotation marks.
For the quote at the end of the sentence, put the comma OUTSIDE the quotation marks.
Examples:
“Put your coat on the chair,” suggested Scott, “and come into the kitchen.”
“I will get more wood,” volunteered Dakota, “after I buy some food.”

112. Be Careful!
Don’t use a comma when a period has signaled the end of a sentence.
Examples:
“The car stalled,” said Jonah. “I couldn’t get it started again.”
“You can have my jacket,” offered Abuk. “I’m not cold.”

113. The Steps Look for quotation marks or the exact words said.
Check for other words in the sentence.
Add one or two commas to separate the quotation from the rest of the sentence.

114. Let’s Take a Quiz !

115. Let’s Do Some Practice !

117. Lesson 6: Commas like to be in Addresses, Dates, and Salutations.
Use a comma to separate:
• parts of an address,
• parts of an exact date, and
• a salutation from the rest of the message.

118. Commas in Addresses
Use a comma to separate the street address from the city and the city from the state:
Please send this letter to Jamie Fox at 213 Mercer Street, New York City, New York.

119. Be Careful!
Don’t use a comma when a word separates the parts of an address:
I am going to a dinner at 101 North Oak Street in Basking Ridge.

120. Be Careful!
Also use a comma to separate the final part of an address from the last part of the sentence.
Please go to the school at 31 Pinecone Drive, Topeka, to deliver this food.

121. Be Careful! Don’t use a comma to separate the zip code from the state.
Please mail this letter to Michelle Peters at 1504 West Main Street, Elgin,
Illinois

122. Commas in Dates Use commas to separate parts of exact dates.
Today is Tuesday, January 15, 2009.

123. Be Careful! Don’t use commas with vague dates.
The championship game will take place in June 2010.
My birth month is November.
I was born in 1946.

124. Be Careful!
Use a comma to separate the end of a date from the last part of a sentence.
In have lived since August 21, 1972, in Lawrence.
A major tragedy occurred on Tuesday, March 19, 1999, in my hometown.

125. Commas and Salutations
Use a comma to separate a salutation from the rest of the message.
Salutation:
A greeting at the beginning of a letter.
Hi Sumi, Can you go out with me tonight?

126. The Steps Look for addresses, exact dates, and greeting words.
Make sure there are at least two parts
Add a comma to separate them.
Add a comma to separate addresses and dates from the end of the sentence.

127. Let’s Take a Quiz !

128. Let’s Do Some Practice !

129. All Reviews Review It Watch It Say It Practice It Practice Level #4
Placing commas of all types learned so far.
Practice Level #5
Writing sentences with all comma types learned so far.

130. Mastery Requirements Level 4 - Two sets in a row at 100%
Level 5 - One set at 100%

131. What patterns do you see?

132. Logistics Set up individual student folders.
Decide to use a printer or to copy materials.
Make some materials accessible.
Distribute other materials based on mastery.
Set up a way for students to hand in products.
Create a grading system.
Emphasize generalization

133. Troubleshooting Limit Internet access. Limit cheating.
Limit inappropriate responding to the program.
Help students who are not reaching mastery.
Help students catch up.
Plan work for speedy students.
Emphasize mastery.

134. The Research

135. The Commas Program Study 1
Content: 4 Commas Rules
Subjects: 12 students with LD
Design: Multiple-baseline across students design

136. Figure 1: Commas Program Results for Study 1
Mean Percentage of Commas
Corrected
Demonstrated

137. Commas Study 2 Content: 6 Comma Rules
Subjects: 73 Middle-school students
39 High-school students
Design: Pretest-Posttest Control-group design with random selection

138. Figure 2: Correcting Comma Errors
Percentage Correct
Experimental Middle School
Control Middle School
Experimental High School
Control High School

139. Figure 3: Writing Sentences with Commas
Percentage Correct
Experimental Middle School
Control Middle School
Experimental High School
Control High School

140. For more information on this CD, contact
Edge Enterprises
708 W. 9th Street, Suite 107
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:

141. The Commas Rules Commas like to introduce.
Commas like to hang in groups.
Commas like to make a match.
Commas like to take out trash.
Commas like to be in conversations.
Commas like to be in places, dates, and salutations.

142. What You’ll Learn