On Sep 1, 2006, at 11:54 PM, Johanna Rubba wrote:

> Native speakers don't need to be told where a noun is in a  
> sentence; if they're taught the noun signals (my emphasis).


I tutored reading at my sons' public schools in both Minneapolis and  
Lafayette, LA.  These kids have no idea what a noun is.  And they are  
totally at a loss speaking, writing, and reading Standard English.   
Standard English is hard to read if you don't speak the language!    
Itty-bitties need grammar instruction on a daily basis, 5 minutes a  
day, from the minute they walk into a classroom.  That instruction  
becomes imbedded and natural and then more and more complex  
instruction is presented as their intellect develops.  Then college/ 
university students would be prepared!  You guys could teach lofty  
stuff that college is SUPPOSED to teach, rather than being remedial  
teachers.

Rebecca Watson

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