mark pennington
Mark Pennington is an educational author, presenter, reading specialist, and middle school teacher. Mark is committed to differentiated instruction for the diverse needs of today's students. Visit Mark’s website at http://www.penningtonpublishing.com to check out his free teacher resources and books: Teaching Reading Strategies, Teaching Essay Strategies, Teaching Grammar and Mechanics, and Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary.
Articles by this Author
Why Johnny Can’t Use Good Grammar
- By mark pennington
- Published October 25, 2008
- K12
- Unrated
Proper grammar is a critically important tool for success in school, work, and life. We are judged, sometimes quite severely, by the words we use and the way we use them in both our speaking and writing. Misused grammar betrays us. The way we talk and write reflects our background, education, and ability to communicate. Fortunately, with the right diagnostic tools and targeted practice, even those with poor grammar skills can significantly improve their ability to communicate effectively.
Why Johnny Still Can't Read
- By mark pennington
- Published October 25, 2008
- K12
- Unrated
Most students learn to read in their early years of school. However, some students experience reading problems. This article tells why students have reading problems and offers hope for remedial readers.
Why Johnny Can't Write
- By mark pennington
- Published October 25, 2008
- K12
- Unrated
Students need to learn how to use essay structure to inform and convince their teachers and professors. But how do you transform a creative, non-linear thinker into an organized and persuasive writer? Take the mystery out of essays by replacing the confusing terminology of thesis statements, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary with simple numerical values that reflect the hierarchy of effective essay structure.
Why Johnny Can't Spell
- By mark pennington
- Published October 25, 2008
- K12
- Unrated
Even poor spellers can become good spellers with the right combination of good diagnostic assessments and targeted practice. Spelling requires direct instruction, and cannot be learned implicitly only through the writing process.

