Homophones

[Betty Yoder]

Yesterday I spent some time outlining the year for our Language curriculum.  In the process I noted when I will be teaching the homophones:  there, their, and they’re.  The first two are often sticklers and I wish for someone who knows a memorable way to teach them to pass their wisdom on to me!

[Carolyn Martin]

I don’t teach this to first grade but here is how I remember which one is which. “There” has the word “here” in it. “There” and “here” both relate to places. “Their” has an “I” and both of these relate to people. I don’t know if that’s at all helpful. Sometimes I think the issue can also be whether or not the student understands the context of how it’s being used. They may still be confused on the difference of people and place (depending on obscurity within the context.)

[Becky Bollinger]

Below is a song that you may find helpful! It is to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it.”

I would be sure to use motions on the 3rd line of every verse. The 4th verse could be eliminated if you wish.

And on the 3rd verse, it works best if you actually say “apostrophe” when spelling “they’re”

————–

T-h-e-r-e tells us where.

T-h-e-r-e tells us where.

There is an elephant. There is a bear!

T-h-e-r-e tells us where.

 

T-h-e-i-r shows ownership.

Their big dog did a flip.

Whose dog? Their dog!

T-h-e-i-r shows ownership.

 

T-h-e-y-’r-e

T-h-e-y-’r-e

They are. They’re my friends.

T-h-e-y-’r-e

 

There, their, they’re are important words

There, their, they’re must be spelled right

T-h-e-r-e, t-h-e-i-r,

T-h-e-y-‘r-e

[Betty Yoder]

Thank you.  Those are both very good ideas and I expect to incorporate them this year.  I revamped the song a bit to make the words fit my style.

[Lucy Showalter]

These are excellent suggestions! I look forward to singing the song with my third and fourth grade students.

I made a poster several years ago to try to keep there, their, they’re, your, and you’re straight. For “there” the word “here” is highlighted and arrows pointing in different directions are surrounding the word. I ask the students where it is- it it here or there? For “their” I have a picture of a cow and a picture of a soccer ball. “Their” is owning something. It is their cow or it is their soccer ball. For “they’re” I have stick figures around the word. They are standing. They are sitting. They are thinking. The ideas for “their” and “they’re” I duplicated for “your” and “you’re.”

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