Playful Proofreading to Boost Writing Skills
A Sentence a Day: Short, Playful Proofreading Exercises to Help Students Avoid Tripping Up When They Write (Grades 6-9) 2nd Edition
By Samantha Prust
(Routledge/Prufrock Press, 2025 – Learn more)
Reviewed by Kathleen Palmieri
A Sentence a Day is a surprisingly powerful (and easy-to-use) resource for writing instruction that goes beyond the typical grammar and sentence-writing exercises.
Unlike most professional development books focused purely on grammar rules, this text offers an innovative, hands-on approach to helping students develop stronger writing skills with clarity, precision, and creativity.
The book’s structure is unique in that it uses a format of mini-lessons that are ideal for quick 20-minute writing workshops that might be daily or whenever they fit in.
Each page presents a sentence with an incorrect version, a correct version, and helpful notes. Projecting each sentence on the Interactive Flat Board creates an engaging learning environment. This approach allows students to examine what makes a sentence work and why changes are necessary.
The interactive nature of these lessons engages students by inviting them to think critically about grammar, sentence structure, and the role of descriptive details such as adjectives.
Just right for my fifth graders
As a teacher I’ve incorporated these exercises into 20-minute mini-lessons, perfect for my 5th grade classroom. The exercises are structured to grow with the students’ skills, starting with simple sentences and gradually increasing in complexity.
Over time I’ve noticed a remarkable improvement in how my students approach writing, particularly when it comes to adding more vivid details, carefully choosing adjectives, and applying grammatical rules with more precision.
One of the strengths of A Sentence A Day is that it feels less like a traditional grammar book and more like an engaging, interactive resource. The short, playful, yet educational nature of the sentences makes the lessons enjoyable for students. The e-book version offers 50 exercises with interactive elements, enhancing the learning experience further by allowing students to actively apply what they’ve learned.
In my classroom, these quick but impactful lessons have not only sparked student interest but have also fostered a more refined sense of sentence crafting.
A tool for upper grades, too
The book isn’t just a resource for middle school teachers – it also works well for higher intermediate grades through high school. Its blend of accessible writing practice and advanced concepts makes it a versatile tool for developing strong, well-rounded writers. After seeing the growth, interaction, and engagement in my class, I’m confident this resource will continue to be a key part of my writing instruction.
In summary, A Sentence A Day is a gem for educators looking for an engaging, concise, and effective way to teach sentence writing and proofreading. It’s much more than a grammar guide – it’s a practical tool for helping students become more confident and precise writers.
Kathleen Palmieri is a National Board Certified Teacher, NBCT Professional Learning facilitator and education writer. She is a fifth grade educator in upstate New York who reviews and writes regularly for MiddleWeb. With a passion for literacy and learning in the classroom, she participates in various writing workshops, curriculum writing endeavors, and math presentations.
As a lifelong learner, she is an avid reader and researcher of educational practices and techniques. Collaborating with colleagues and globally on X and Bluesky and expanding her education adventures at www.kathleenpalmieri.com are ongoing practices.
