Speech Marks Superstars: English Punctuation for Kids
A fun, confidence-building course that teaches children exactly how and when to use speech marks — so their writing comes alive with real dialogue.
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Understand what speech marks are and why writers use them
- Correctly place opening and closing speech marks around spoken words
- Punctuate dialogue accurately, including commas, exclamation marks, and question marks inside speech marks
- Use reporting clauses (e.g. 'she said', 'he shouted') to attribute dialogue to the right character
- Avoid the most common speech mark mistakes that children make in school assessments
- Identify and fix incorrectly punctuated dialogue in sample sentences
- Write their own short passages of dialogue using correct speech mark rules independently
- Recognise speech marks in published books and connect classroom rules to real-world writing
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 13 lessons
What Are Speech Marks and Why Do We Use Them?
Children discover what speech marks are, where they appear in real books, and why authors use them. This foundational module builds excitement and curiosity by connecting speech marks to stories children already love, establishing the 'why' before the 'how'.
- 1.1Spot the Speech Marks!Included
- 1.2Inside the Marks vs. Outside the MarksIncluded
Opening and Closing Speech Marks — Getting the Basics Right
Children practise placing opening (66) and closing (99) speech marks accurately around spoken words, building the core mechanical skill of the course with plenty of repetition, self-checking strategies, and low-stakes writing practice.
- 2.1The Opening 66 and Closing 99Included
- 2.2Starting a New Speaker — Each Character Gets Their Own LineIncluded
Punctuation Inside Speech Marks
Children tackle the trickiest part of dialogue punctuation — what goes inside the speech marks alongside the words. This module covers commas before reporting clauses, full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks, with clear rules and memorable mnemonics.
- 3.1The Comma Before 'Said' — Dialogue + Reporting ClauseIncluded
- 3.2Questions and Exclamations in DialogueIncluded
- 3.3Reporting Clauses — Who Said What?Included
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Children confront the most frequent speech mark errors seen in school assessments — from forgetting closing marks to misplacing punctuation outside the speech marks. This module builds error-spotting skills and self-editing habits that transfer directly to test and writing contexts.
- 4.1The Top 5 Speech Mark MistakesIncluded
- 4.2Be Your Own Editor — Checking Your Dialogue WritingIncluded
Speech Marks in the Wild — Real Books, Real Writing
Children make the vital connection between classroom rules and the writing of published authors. They analyse dialogue in real books, discuss authorial choices, and use mentor texts as inspiration for their own dialogue writing — grounding the rules in authentic literary context.
- 5.1What Authors Do — Analysing Dialogue in Real BooksIncluded
- 5.2Write Like an Author — Crafting Dialogue-Rich PassagesIncluded
Show What You Know — Assessment and Celebration
Children demonstrate mastery of all eight learning outcomes through a mix of error-correction, identification, and independent creative writing tasks. The module celebrates progress, consolidates learning, and produces a finished piece of writing children can be proud of.
- 6.1Dialogue Detective — Identify and Fix ChallengeIncluded
- 6.2My Brilliant Dialogue — Final Writing ShowcaseIncluded
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Nisky
Hi, I'm so glad your child is here! I'm passionate about making English grammar feel less like a set of confusing rules and more like a superpower that unlocks better, more exciting writing. Speech marks are one of those punctuation skills that can feel overwhelming at first — but I've seen countless children have that wonderful "aha!" moment when it suddenly all clicks, and their stories fill up with brilliant, punchy dialogue. I've designed every lesson in this course to be as clear, friendly, and encouraging as possible, because I believe that when children understand a rule rather than just memorise it, it sticks for life. I can't wait to help your child become a Speech Marks Superstar!
— Nisky
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- 6 modules, 13 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed