Response+-+7+September+13+Teaching+Grammar

Paige Smith 9/13/12   ECI 430 Teaching Grammar Reflection The first time I remember anything about grammar was in fifth grade. My teacher gave us homework every night out of a grammar book and we were to turn it in the next day. As a class we would go over it together. I do not remember this being very helpful because we would just change the answer as she went along in the lesson. After fifth grade I don’t remember going back over grammar until I was in eleventh grade. I know this is sad, but it is true. I believe we went over grammar every day in Ms. Dunn’s class. She would give us worksheets to take home and then the next day in class we would spend the whole ninety minutes arguing what was right and what was wrong. This is something I do not want my students to have to go through when I teach them grammar. I feel like grammar is important to all students at any age. Beginning with first graders would not be a bad idea. I think every year they should be introduced to something new in grammar, that way when they get to high school and college they can use it properly. Have good grammar can make a person look intelligent and credible. I know if I were to read something from someone that contains bad grammar, I would not think they were well educated. I know that I did not have a great grammar experience and that is not fair. We write and speak everyday so I do not see why grammar is not incorporated more than it is. I did not know a lot of things about grammar until college when I took Dr. Reaser’s class. He introduced me to many different things such as the differences between nor and or, further and farther and comma use. Little things like this are things that students should be taught before they reach the real world.

After reading Peterson’s article, I had more insight into language use. I really liked how Peterson included Ryan’s Story because it gave me a chance to see an example of a student who did not enjoy the writing process. I agree completely that students learn better when their personal lives are included in their writing. May they know it or not, they are learning the process and enjoying it at the same time. I loved the idea that Peterson gave about using the Titanic activity. Having students become part of the Titanic by being a passenger helps to think they were actually there. Teachers have to create lesson plans around their student’s interests and the knowledge that they need to learn about language. Peterson says that teaching students writing out of a textbook can be a negative. Taking the time to create a lesson plan on your own can have a greater effect on the student’s learning. As Peterson says we have to teach our students not to be afraid of a “blank page.”

Weaver’s article was also interesting to me. I liked how he said that some grammar does not help students speak and write. As teachers we have to decide whether or not we should teach grammar separately or together with writing. According to Martha Kolln, she suggests that we teach grammar with the writing process. She believes that teaching grammar as its own subject is not effect. I am not sure where I fall on this suggestion. I think grammar should be taught, but teaching it within writing may be too much for students. Then again teaching it as its own subject can be boring and less interesting for students. Peterson says that teaching grammar in context of writing will not work as soon as you teach it. You will have to teach it over again and they need practice. If students make errors while they are practicing, it is our job to coach them and help them make corrections.

I think by reading these two articles, “in context” means that we have to teach our students in our style that best fits them. We need to design our own lessons and teach grammar and writing together. Using language and grammar “in context” allows students to practice while writing. It is like killing two birds with one stone.