> This might seem a stupid question from me over the Atlantic Ocean, but is
it
> really necessary to use a grammar book? Don't you sometimes feel you could
work
> better without one?

That's what I had in mind when I wrote my short grammar text.  I couldn't
find a book for my college Grammar for Teachers course that didn't confuse
the students more than it taught them.  I decided to approach systematic
grammar with a minimalist philosophy, only including what was absolutely
necessary.  You could do the same thing in your classes with a create-a-text
approach where the students write the book as the course is taught.  I think
that would be a great way to approach it in elementary school.  You, as
teacher, would have to provide order and guidance and terminology, but the
students (except ESL) know most of the rest of it before they start.

Jeff Glauner
Park University