Teaching Language (Grammar and Mechanics)

Learning Outcomes:

CLO 5253.2 - Identify a clear instructional goal that is related to the English content of the standards.

CLO 5253.3 - Provide the learning in each instructional year that lays the necessary groundwork for success in subsequent English courses.

CLO 5253.5 - Assess student progress toward the achievement of English standards and adjust instruction accordingly.

Information:

According to research, the best way to learn vocabulary is in context of listening and reading. Listening and reading are input language skills. These skills come to us; they are inward directed. Output skills are speaking and writing. Of course, these skills are much harder. That's why learners of a second language can understand far more than what they can generate in output. It is far easier to read and understand than it is to write or speak. Soooooo... how should we teach vocabulary? The SAT regularly employs 5000 words that are on their "frequently appears" list. If students only learned vocabulary words from reading, they would get only at portion of these words (around 2000 of these words). Thus high performing schools often employ vocabulary lists or books to assure that their students are exposed to all 5000 words.

Similarly, some schools do not teach grammar except as it occurs naturally in writing. The criticism that results is that most American students do not know that there are six tenses used in the English language. When I ask my seniors in AP English Language and Composition, 'how many tenses are there in English?" The only ones who can answer the question accurately are the foreign students who studied English as a foreign language.

Similarly, I mark papers that have mechanical errors. If a student were to write student, "If I was going to ascertain an answer, I would say 'Yes.'" - This is an error because the student wrote in the indicative mood rather than the subjunctive.

Yep - I'm kinda old school when it comes to mechanics. I do appreciate the school of thought that states that fluency of thought is more important than mechanical correctness. And perhaps in certain writing, like journaling, we can let mechanics go. But in essay writing, I hold the line and insist on observing the conventions of standard English.

Thus my freshman students have a vocabulary book from which we learn words. We do "Daily Oral Language" from which they write a personal grammar. And I insist that they correct their mechanical errors in the essays that they write.

Youtube is full of Grammar Videos however, they are not very systematic unless you use the ESL ones. Here's a set of limited videos.

Readability calculator for student writing or text.

Re-read/Review Burke, chap 7 "Language Study: Vocabulary, Grammar and Style" (pp. 256-292)

Production:

Reading Log: Summarize a different topic that stood out and tell how you will use it in your teaching.

DUE: Lesson Plan 5 Post on web Site (may be done in groups of 3 or 4)

Below you see the Rubric for your lesson plan. After you post your LMU Lesson Plan, do a self-evaluation of your Lesson Plan. I will also be providing feedback on your lesson plan via email.

Next Steps:

Next Week - Socratic Seminars - Listening and Speaking Standards.

See Week 13 for requirements of Unit Plan.