Let's Talk, Teacher to Teacher With Dr. Gina Pepin

Truth Be Told: Punctuation Is Not Optional (But They Think It Is)

Season 2 Episode 53

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0:00 | 8:33

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In this Truth Be Told episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, I’m tackling a classroom mystery we all know too well: students who can read every word on the page… while completely ignoring punctuation. Commas vanish, periods become optional, and kids power through sentences until they run out of breath like fluency is a sprint.

I’ll share the funny (and painfully familiar) moments that happen when punctuation gets bulldozed, why it’s such a common issue, and a few quick, realistic strategies you can try right away to help students slow down, phrase their reading, and actually make meaning. If you’ve ever wanted to shout, “The period means STOP,” this one’s for you.

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