Teaching of Grammar

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Teaching of Grammar

• Rebecca Davis

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What did you learn in school?

• Who/whom?
• Comma before and?
• Annoying grammar worksheets
• What was your experience?

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Real Grammar vs. Usage

• What is grammar?
• Definition of Grammar
• "the relationship between structure and meaning"
• Definition of Usage
• Rules, proper English

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Prescriptive vs. Descriptive

• Definition of Prescriptive
• Rules
• Rote memorization
• Repetition
• Definition of Descriptive
• Choices vs. Right/Wrong
• Explanation of parts

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How does it Work?

• Ways to do it
• Silent Sustained Reading
• Presentation making usage descriptive
• Writing emphasis
• Presenting usage as alternatives for clearer
  writing rather than rules we must obey

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Can it Happen?

• YES!!
• My personal experience teaching with it
• Class was excited (yes, about grammar)
• They actually liked their homework
• They learned a lot