Here are some ideas that should help your students:
Usually a participle phrase that tells which one(s) of two or more is
essential.
Ex. Students planning to try out for the play should stay after
school today. (Not all students will stay after school.)
Participle phrases that follow proper nouns are set off by commas.
Ex. Mr. Jackson, finishing our papers, decided to turn a somersault.
Introductory participle phrases are always followed by a comma.
We use the Warriner's Handbook series (Fourth Course) for grade 8.
Jo Palmore
Montgomery Bell Academy
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