I learned a lot from one of my professors- Dr. Leif Fearn. He has a wonderful book called Interactions. I don't have time to go into detail about it, but it makes "grammar" interesting. I hesitate to call it grammar because it really is authentic writing. The kids learn how to write better while also learning grammar in a very authentic way. It also does not take a long time and is interesting for the kids to participate in. Please check it out!
On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 6:48 AM, Rita Doyle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi! > > This is Erica, I lurk more than I post too, but I have a suggestion > for you that has worked very well with us, which is to use Constance > Weaver's books on grammar -- Teaching Grammar in Context and the > Grammar Planbook. She has the MOST fabulous way I've ever seen for > talking about sentence patterns in the context of great writing, and > it really works! The students feel SO empowered, and it gives us all > a common language to discuss the trait of "sentence fluency" -- we use > 6+1 traits at our school too. We use it with our 9th and 10th graders, > and it's appropriate for middle grades. > > The link at heinemann is here: > http://books.heinemann.com/products/0375.aspx > . It might be a great tool to help update your LA curriculum. > > Good luck! > > Best, > Erica > Vanguard High School, NYC > > On Jul 17, 2008, at 9:33 AM, Stephanie Griffis wrote: > > > Hi, everyone! I lurk more than I post, but I need some advice. My > > department is working on our Language Arts curriculum. It was > > written ten years ago to our state standards, but it needs > > updating. Yesterday we got into a discussion about the teaching of > > grammar, which is always a hot button topic. One major issue > > another teacher and I have is that the way our curriculum is written > > now we are supposed to teach sentence patterns--transitive, > > intransitive, and linking verb constructions. She and I want this > > gone; we don't see how it helps students with anything (no one is > > ever going to say, "This paragraph would be much more interesting if > > you used more transitive verb sentences!") The curriculum > > coordinator thinks it should stay in. What are your thoughts? If > > there are valid reasons for it to stay, I'd love to know what they > > are. > > > > Thanks! > > Stef > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org > > . > > > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- - Heather "DIBELS is the worst thing to happen to the teaching of reading since the development of flash cards." - P. David Pearson" "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
