I had an interesting perspective since I spent most of my time in the  exhibit hall talking to teachers about grammar. For years I've been  encouraged by the number of teachers who are interested in grammar in  spite of the "evidence" that it's bad for students, and that number was  higher again this year. Also, many teachers this year said they were  excited that NCTE had accepted more grammar sessions. I  hope that attendance at these sessions has sent a clear message. I also  saw a definite increase in grammar-related materials available in the  exhibit hall (although, sadly, most are still exercises on individual  concepts). Regardless, these materials were there because teachers have  been searching for options. Basically, everything I saw at NCTE this  year points unquestionably to a rising interest in grammar.
  Dawn

"Spruiell, William C" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:                                      Peter,
     
    I was only at NCTE for a couple of days, but my impression is  that the presentations were packed – I tried to go to Amy Benjamin’s  sessions, but it was past standing-room only and into crowded-at-the-door  territory. The session I presented in had somewhere around 70-100 people in it  (I gave out 97 handouts, but some people may have taken one for someone at  another session, etc.). The ATEG meeting itself was much smaller, but that’s  possibly because the last shuttle bus was leaving right in the middle of the  interest group meetings (and, of course, everyone had had a long day by then).  Attendance was very high for this NCTE conference in general, so I’m not  sure if the crowds in the grammar sessions constitute any evidence about  interest in grammar specifically, but the grammar sessions certainly seemed to  be holding their own. 
     
    One amusing point: In addition to NCTE, many of whose members  have devoted countless hours to helping disadvantaged youths, working in  underfunded institutions, etc., the convention center was also, at the same  time, hosting Donald Trump’s “Wealth Expo” (because, as we  all know, wealth is underrated and needs some hype).
     
    Bill Spruiell
    Dept. of English
    Central Michigan University
     
        From: Assembly for the  Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter  Adams
  Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:47 PM
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: NCTE
    
     
    As the NCTE conference winds down, I'd love to hear some reports  from those who were there.  How did ATEG fair?  Were there  presentations on grammar?  Were they well attended?  Can anyone give  a report?
  
  
  
  Peter Adams
  
  
  
  **************************************
  See what's new at http://www.aol.com
    To join or  leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:  http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave  the list" 
    Visit ATEG's web site at  http://ateg.org/ 
    
    To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:       http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html  and select "Join or leave the list"    Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/  


       
---------------------------------
Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/