While this may seem like comical nonsense, Mad Libs® educate children, and let’s be honest, adults, too! From the moment I open the front cover, I find myself concentrating and remembering what an adverb is or thinking up the best “verb ending in ING”. This silly way to introduce grammar practice into errand running, down time, or scheduled grammar time is a game changer for students.
For reluctant writers and readers, these one-page exercises have students working on parts of speech, writing, reading, and introduces fun nonsense humor into a difficult learning area. Think of it this way, when we learn to read, many phonics programs introduce students to fun characters and mnemonics to remember letters and words. As we get older, those fun characters lose their appeal, and we outgrow Inky mouse and Miss A. Mad Libs put the fun and creativity into the hands of the students and their friends.
The pages are not just filled with humorous stories but tap into many ELA skills, without students even noticing. The most obvious skill is parts of speech, as students recall what nouns, verbs, and exclamations are. Spelling is a skill that can be encouraged. Instead of writing down what looks like the correct word, encourage correct spelling and capitalization if needed. Challenge students to use words they may have on their spelling lists or vocab words from their science or history lessons.
Mad Libs are a cross-generational tool which leads to the development of a rich vocabulary. Parents and grandparents use the big words and take the time to define and put into context the usage of the words. As students use their skills to fill in the blanks, encourage them to read their stories out loud, to share with others, and take enjoyment out of a silly story they created.
The variety of Mad Lib books means there is a topic for everyone. Sports, Barbie, pets, Shakespeare, and holiday themed. With the use of a Dry Erase Pocket you can reuse your stories over and over again with students, family, and friends. Happy Libbing! ~ Rebecca
