English Worksheets and Activities

The purpose of a English worksheet should be to reinforce instruction and provide meaningful practice. For some teachers, worksheets offer 40 minutes of individual work time. For students, worksheets are viewed as “busy work” that has no relevance; students are generally concerned only with how the worksheets will impact their overall grade. If worksheets are an essential part of the lesson, make them meaningful, not merely something that once graded goes into the circular file. 

Here are a few tips that might help make the incorporation of worksheets a bit easier.

As you begin your unit, make sure that you outline how students will be graded. If I let my students know that they will be responsible for all worksheets, and that the worksheets are worth points, I generally get a better response. Always make that connection of completion of work = good grades. If you have unmotivated students, try giving them a visual example. What I mean is, create a hypothetical grade, and then illustrate how the grade changes when work is skipped and conversely, when completed. That should help even the laziest student understand the consequences.

I frequently deal with students complaining that they lost their worksheet. In order to assist disorganized students, I find large empty paper boxes and label each with the corresponding period. I explain to students that all daily work should be placed in the box. It’s a very easy way to put the ownership back on the student and avoids a long line of complaints.

When I am working on any lesson or unit, I try to give students all the worksheets at once. At the beginning of a unit, I hand out a packet and explain that students are responsible for all the work. I make sure that I use a variety of formats. For example, I include reading comprehension, matching, sentence completion, etc . . .  I also include sheets that are graded for extra credit. I have had a lot of success with visual brainteasers, word searches and crossword puzzles.  As long as the entire packet connects with the overall theme of the unit, students shouldn’t complain. At the end of the unit, I collect the packet and enter grades for all the work at the same time.  Again, I make sure that I use my paper collection boxes so that I don’t have massive piles of student work on my desk.

Rather than constructing the worksheets yourself, you can design a project that requires students to construct a worksheet that could be used to enhance instruction. For example, if students are learning about the difference between metaphor and simile, have them design a worksheet that not only clearly identifies the differences, but is meaningful and interesting as well. As part of the final grade, each group must include a key as well as an explanation of why they chose that particular design.  This activity will help determine a student's level of comprehension and help increase retention. For more English worksheet ideas see below.

English Worksheets and Activities:

Introduction to Formal English

This lesson incorporates worksheets to help students understand the nuances of formal English. In this activity, worksheets are essential for success.  However, if you want to try having students create their own worksheets, give them the task of changing the setting, or instead of using "common English" use text language instead. 

Native Newspaper

This activity is designed for ESL students, but could easily be adapted for any English classroom.  You can give students a newspaper article or have them find one. Rather than assigning the questions, you can have students create the worksheet based on what they read.  You can collect the articles and worksheets and use that for a future reading comprehension lesson.

Text Messaging

Worksheets are pretty much essential for this lesson.  Since students are probably more familiar with text language than we are, have them teach the lesson. Outline your learning objectives and then have students find a way to effectively instruct the class.  Be sure you clearly explain your expectations and make the incorporation of a worksheet a requirement.

Preparing for Poetry: A Reader's First Steps

I like this lesson because it incorporates technology and worksheets. Rather than giving them paper and a pen, students complete the worksheets all online. It's a nice way to help students familiarize themselves with the Internet.