Punctuation is in Peril

Why do today's children skip the dots and dashes?

• Speech-to-text and texting culture

  
  

Children are growing up in a world of messaging apps where punctuation is optional. Messages often rely on line breaks, emoji's or tone rather then capitals, commas and full stops or question marks. When a learner needs to transfer this style to schoolwork, punctuation feels extra and superfluous rather than essential.

• Keyboard over handwriting

  
  

Typing on a phone or tablet, especially with predictive test, discourages traditional punctuation. Autocorrect sometimes automatically adds punctuation or skips it entirely, so children do not get into the habit of inserting punctuation themselves.

• Developing cognitive load.

  
  

For younger writers, forming ideas, spelling words and physically writing can take so much mental energy that punctuation drops to the bottom of the priority list. As fluency improves, punctuation usually follows.

• Modeling and feedback

  
  

If children mostly see unpunctuated writing in their daily lives, they will most likely imitate that style, unless adults consistently model proper punctuation and give feedback.

How do we improve punctuation?

• Read aloud together

  
  

Good books model natural punctuation.

While reading aloud from a book, stop right before a punctuation mark and ask what punctuation mark they think comes next. This builds anticipation and awareness.

• Short editing activities

  
  

Ask your child to add punctuation to prewritten sentences. When they see a full stop, they clap or stomp. When they see a comma, they do a small hop. This links punctuation to the rhythm of speech and breathing.

Give a sentence without punctuation at the end and ask the child to add different ending- full stop, question marks, exclamation marks-and then read how the sentence changes meaning. This helps them see punctuation as a meaning tool, not just a rule.

• Use colour coding of symbols

  
  

Highlight full stops, capitals and commas to make them visual. Add a magnifying glass prop or stamp for each correct response to make it more tactile.

Show a sentence with emojis in place of punctuation. Ask them to rewrite the sentence replacing emojis with correct punctuation marks. This makes the abstract symbols concrete and playful.

"Operate" on a sentence with punctuation "bandages." Use sticky notes or small cards with punctuation marks to "patch up" where needed. This is an enjoyable, playful metaphor.

• Explicitly teach "pause and stop"

  
  

Link punctuation to breathing when reading aloud.

• Positive feedback

  
  

Praise when punctuation improves rather than correcting errors.

#punctuationmatters

#usepunctuationformeaning