Plural possessives occur when plural nouns demonstrate ownership. Plural possessives use apostrophes in different places depending on the word usage. This can be a difficult subject for children to learn. Some children will use apostrophes on nouns that should be plural only, place the apostrophes in the wrong place, or not use apostrophes at all. Teaching plural possessives can be challenging as a teacher also. The best approach to plural possessives is to keep it fun and keep practicing the correct forms.

1

Use flashcards when first discussing plural possessives. Have a complete sentence one one side, such as "This computer belongs to Jennifer." On the flip side of the card it should read, "Jennifer's computer." This will demonstrate so the children understand singular possessive nouns. Once your class has gotten a grasp of singular possessives, add in plural possessives. Use sentences such as "This bowl belongs to the dogs." The flip side of the card should read, "Dogs' bowl."

2

Use worksheets in your class to build on the previous work identifying if a noun is a singular or plural possessive. For example, the students would need to identify "cats' toy" as a plural possessive on one worksheet. On other worksheets, have the students place the apostrophe in the correct place for singular and plural possessive nouns. This can be a very difficult topic for kids. The worksheets should offer them the chance to practice and master this skill. Websites such as Super Teacher Worksheets offer free downloadable forms that can be used in your class.

3

Use websites like Spelling City when students have downtime to work on plural possessives. Children love working on the computer. As a teacher, you can have them access this site to work on spelling lists including plural possessives and games working on the same skills. Provide the website address to parents so the kids can work on these at home.

4

Create groups to practice together. Pair children who understand the concepts with children who may need more help. Create games for the groups. For example, have the groups come up with as many plural possessive sentences as they can in 30 seconds. Have the students write their sentences on the board for everyone to see and then read them aloud. Provide the winners a small reward.