Since our student dropped the class, here you'll see blog summary 16 done by Diana Howell from the other section. Answers are due this Friday, March 27th, at class time.
__________________________________________ There has been much debate on the teaching of grammar in schools. Long ago it was thought that grammar had no real bearing on ones writing, but now some would disagree with that assumption. In fact, grammar is an important aspect in ones writing. Without the knowledge of basic grammatical concepts like nouns, verbs, pronouns and punctuation, one would not be able to write correctly. Formerly, an interview was done with twenty-five teachers on their thoughts and views of grammar. Each instructor had their own way of teaching grammar; in fact, almost all the instructors that were interviewed agreed on the best way to help an individual understand the concept of grammar.
Writing can be a difficult task if the proper instruction is not taught. Students do not generally learn how to write given only the basic concepts of grammar. However, some students only write what is heard and not what is actually correct. One stated that the students can't go by what sounds right because they have no good role model. Therefore, the teachers must engage the students in their own writings so that they can see what mistakes they are making.
According to some of the instructors that participated in the interview with Brenda Petruzzella, several instructors felt that the most effective way to teach grammar was through individualized learning. They felt that most students would benefit from grammar if they were shown what mistakes they were making. However, in order to learn grammar one must understand the basic forms of writing like nouns, verbs, punctuation, and more. Amoung the many concepts of approaching grammar, many felt that sentence diagramming and sentence combining would benefit their students. The more and more students practice diagramming typical errors in writing, the easier it can be to pick out their own mistakes.
All in all, students must understand basic concepts so that they can apply these rules to their own writings. Students seem to benefit most with constant peer revision. But, peer revision is not always available since the amount of time that is needed with each student will vary. Practice makes perfect and the more one does something, the better he/she will get. So it is understood that grammar is vitally important to students whether they are going to teach English or not. At some point in their education, correct grammar will be needed so why not take the time to teach the mechanics and usages of it?
Writing can be a difficult task if the proper instruction is not taught. Students do not generally learn how to write given only the basic concepts of grammar. However, some students only write what is heard and not what is actually correct. One stated that the students can't go by what sounds right because they have no good role model. Therefore, the teachers must engage the students in their own writings so that they can see what mistakes they are making.
According to some of the instructors that participated in the interview with Brenda Petruzzella, several instructors felt that the most effective way to teach grammar was through individualized learning. They felt that most students would benefit from grammar if they were shown what mistakes they were making. However, in order to learn grammar one must understand the basic forms of writing like nouns, verbs, punctuation, and more. Amoung the many concepts of approaching grammar, many felt that sentence diagramming and sentence combining would benefit their students. The more and more students practice diagramming typical errors in writing, the easier it can be to pick out their own mistakes.
All in all, students must understand basic concepts so that they can apply these rules to their own writings. Students seem to benefit most with constant peer revision. But, peer revision is not always available since the amount of time that is needed with each student will vary. Practice makes perfect and the more one does something, the better he/she will get. So it is understood that grammar is vitally important to students whether they are going to teach English or not. At some point in their education, correct grammar will be needed so why not take the time to teach the mechanics and usages of it?
19 comments:
I find it very difficult to imagine that anyone, especially teachers, regardless of it was in the past or present, would think that grammar, meaning proper language, would not matter or wasn't directly linked to writing. Of course, if one is never taught the correct way to speak then they will not be able to write in the correct manner. But I also know that even though the two are linked, they can be separate in execution. I speak casually when I am with my friends, and yet i write (or at least I try to write) in a professional manner.
I believe that grammar is directly linked to writing. If a person speaks a specific way, then they will most likely carry it into their grammar writing. It is specifically important for teachers to teach students the correct way to speak and write. People talk differently when at home and when they are in a professional setting. It is very hard to imagine that a teacher would not think grammar is linked to writing. Grammar has such an affect on the way people write. Teachers have the most impact on learning grammar skills, therefore it is important that they (teachers) realize this also.
I believe that grammar is one of the most essential aspects of learning in today's society. Grammar dictates ones speaking and writing ability, without it how can you speak correct English. Being able to communicate on a higher and business level is needed in order to survive. If we are not learning grammar in school where are we to learn it? "To Teach Is to Change lives."
I have asked many teachers that I have met over the years how they teach grammar. I have yet to find a teacher that still does teach grammar at every age level. I remember learning grammar in junior high and my first year of high school. I think that with more grammar in high school, I would have had an easier time editing my own papers. Grammar is a hard concept to teach and is one aspect of English Education that I am not looking forward to. However, after doing the mini lesson on sentence diagramming, I feel that it would be very helpful in the classroom. I will teach my students how to sentence diagram because it is a good exercise to help the student’s learn the parts of speech.
With the increasing use of technology, knowing the basics of grammar is more important than ever. The students of today cannot rely on computers to fix their mistakes. That is why I think grammar needs to be taught, at least at some level, to every grade. I remember my first grammar lesson in school, being around the age of eight years old, and I continue to learn grammar today. The more exposure students have to grammar the more likely they will understand. Grammar is something that takes time to understand. More schools need to emphasize how important it is to understand and use correct grammar. I believe that individual help on each students personal grammar problems would be the most beneficial.
As I read this thought-provoking article, I began to ask myself, how does one learn grammar; how did I learn grammar? I immediately answered with, by example. Adults who speak Standard English may serve as appropriate role models, but reading helped me much more in absorbing the conventions of the language. When one reads, he or she can visualize the structures of words and sentences, and see how they vary and interact. As I read Petruzella's commentary, I felt that the teachers might find many of the issues discussed irrelevant in the face of a student population with a healthy appetite for literature. However, I have no suggestions as to how to accomplish this. I read to my stepson every day if possible, several books if I have time. I have found that, even though he is only three, he has an appetite for complex sentence structures, very difficult words, and long books. He may not understand each phrase, but he gets the gist of the stories and learns many of the words, and his attention span and inquisitiveness have stretched over time. I hope that he will develop an appreciation for reading that will carry through to his adult years.
Anyway, these teachers' frustration with the lack of scholarly habits in their students resonated with me, and I agree with the article's conclusion that reading, computer literacy, and small class sizes would solve the practical problems English teachers face. The time educators waste arguing over the relevance of "grammar" - which seems to me a transient and relative term, anyhow - they could spend exploring solutions for these dilemmas.
I always thought that grammar was a building block to reading, writing, and editing one's work- a foundation that supports our thoughts, words, and creative ideas. It was surprising to hear teachers say that grammar was not important or would not be taught when learning how to communicate properly might be the most important tool any of us learn.
Today's technology allows us to communicate with anyone at any given time. Knowing proper grammar will enable a more universal understanding of communication.
It wouldn't surprise me to hear that most students, and probably teachers, disliked grammar. However, I find it hard to believe that students and teachers don't understand the importance of learning correct grammar. I can't remember ever being specifically taught grammar at any age level and thus have difficulties being able to pick apart parts of speech. I think over time I just winged my writing and never knew if it was truly correct or not.
I feel that grammar is one of the most important subjects in education today. When someone goes into a business for a job interview they are expected to be able to speak and write correctly. Most high schools today do not focus grammar, but on how to be more creative in literature.
Although grammar isn't my niche, it is essential to accurate writing styles and techniques. Without proper grammatical structure and context, most (if not all) writing would be insufficient especially considering punctuation and sentence diagramming. All in all, grammar comprehension is the foundation of successful writing. It was discussed that instructors feel it's relevant to teach students personally and hands on to better their writing skills. I agree with their perception. In other courses, such as math, some students may understand key concepts and instructors may notice a repetitive mistake that the majority of students may make; therefore, they only address those very few issues. Other students may have some topics they may not understand, but teachers fail to explain those because it wasn't a populous mistake. On another note, I would never suggest, from personal experience, peer editing. From my academic experiences, most students fail to critique papers and give students proper commentary that may benefit their writing and grades.
I found in my own experience in learning grammar that it was heavily enforced during my grade school and junior high days. When I went to high school, however, grammar was not covered at all and we moved on to literature. I think this is a huge mistake because grammar rules need to be enforced and ingrained during our entire learning experience. While taking this class I've learned that I can hardly remember some rules because I haven't heard of them since 8th grade at the latest. I think teachers should take this into consideration and maybe change their teaching strategies.
I agree that grammar is an important aspect of writing. It is the foundation upon which good writers develop their skills. I did a lot of diagramming in high school and found that it was helpful in writing. It forced me to think about every part of the sentence and the how parts relate to each other. I also had a teacher that was very strict about correct grammar usage throughout my four years in high school. I hated it at the time, but when I went to college I felt comfortable writing. It wasn’t always perfect, but I always felt that I had a good understanding of grammar. I think that someone with a good understanding of grammar will take extra time to ensure that a piece of writing is correct before submitting it.
Grammar is an important part of everyday life. It determines the way the speak and write. Have you ever tried going a day without speaking or writing? It is pretty much impossible to go without doing either one of those tasks. Grammar is difficult to teach and to learn. In high school I had no grammar training and I wish I would have. Reviewing grammar in lower level classes would have made my college years much easier.
I believe that grammar is not all that important in a caual conversation. However, outside the most casual of circumstances grammar is very important. While in a casual setting all that is important is that the message gets conveyed; that is not the case in other settings. If a person can not speak or write in a grammatically correct way they are setting themselves up for failure in other- more professional-settings. In my opinion it is imperative that students learn correct grammar and apply it in their speaking and writing.
I find it shocking that even the first few teachers in the past argued that grammar was not important. Without grammar, you could not form clear, coherent sentences. There really would be no point to become English teachers, as one of the focal points of the English language was being tossed to the side. Grammar is the foundation in which the English language is built upon. Without it, people would not be able to express their ideas effectively. I do agree with one point in the article however, that the best way to teach grammar is through and individual approach.
I think that grammar is essential to all writing environments, whether teaching or not. In order to be taken seriously in any type of job, one has to be professional and seem intelligent. I don't think it matters so much how you learn grammar as long as you do. However, I do think that teachers are sometimes the best people to teach a child grammar. As we get older, we tend to not care as much about grammar and would not be as willing to learn it. I think that children would be more apt to learn how to do it in school rather than learn. I find it troubling that some of the teachers felt that grammar was not important. How is someone supposed to write anything if they don't know grammar? No matter what setting a person is in, he/she needs to have knowledge of grammar.
I believe grammar is very important to writing. Grammar is the tool students need to become good writers. I can't believe there are teachers that think grammar is not important in writing. Proper grammar is important in writing and speaking. Grammar is very important in education and as a future teacher, I will make it my mission to teach grammar. I want my students to be equipped for the future.
Peer revision is a very poor method of editing. It is unfair because students who are good writers are shafted with the responsibility of carrying the rest of the class while receiving responses to their work like, "This is good." It keeps the good writer in the class from ever fine-tuning their work and becoming better. Furthermore, the students who are less-than-average writers usually don't benefit from someone just making grammatical corrections on their papers. They need to understand what they're doing wrong, rather than just letting someone else point it out for them. I see where sentence diagramming could be effective, and I have heard where it has helped other people, but I feel that the views presented in this article are unfounded.
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