Yes. Unfortunately, it is all traditional grammar instruction which has
proven to be largely unlearnable in the contemporary classroom. The only
adjustments are a few generative transformational tree diagrams that make
the whole thing even more complex. Grammar texts could be concise and easy
to use. I've proven it with my own text for teacher candidates. I'm
getting excellent retention results every semester. We don't need a host of
terms. We don't need complicated verb conjugation. Just a neat little
phrase structure grammar that matches contemporary pedagogy. A fourth grade
textbook would be just mine rephrased to meet the maturation needs of fourth
graders. I present two important rules for teaching grammar to children:
1) never teach grammar without a real language context; and 2) never teach
grammar for more than ten minutes at a time. That means it's always
embedded in some other discipline. (Note: I don't follow these rules with
college students in a grammar class.)
Jeff Glauner
Associate Professor of English
Park University, Box 1303
8700 River Park Drive
Parkville MO 64152
[log in to unmask]
http://www.park.edu/jglauner/index.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: Johanna Rubba [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 2:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Deep thoughts
I'm surprised by Jeff Glauner's statement about teachers not having
textbooks. I don't know if Maryland is incorporating grammar into
academic standards, but CA is. All the major publishers have published
new K-12 textbooks with plenty of grammar in them, including booklets of
worksheets, 'daily language practice' error hunts, grammar manuals at
the back of the text, and sometimes units that teach and practice
grammar points. It's all traditional grammar, unfortunately, but it IS
there. I wonder if the publishers are marketing similar books to MD
schools. It would be worth checking out.
Of course, this doesn't address the problem of schools that can't afford
to get new books.
A lot of teachers I have talked to in CA say they use old grammar books,
so those are out there too. Where, I don't know, but it is another
possible source.
Johanna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johanna Rubba Assistant Professor, Linguistics
English Department, California Polytechnic State University
One Grand Avenue * San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Tel. (805)-756-2184 * Fax: (805)-756-6374 * Dept. Phone. 756-259
* E-mail: [log in to unmask] * Home page:
http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba
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