Preaching to the choir. I really enjoy reading M&M because of the way it seems to be echoing my thoughts, or is it my thoughts are echoing
their ideas. Either way, I'm on board with this book. While I would normally try and create a coherent, connected, and creative piece of writing...I can't this week. You see its not only the 4
th of July weekend, it's also my birthday weekend, and
SummerFest, and most of all SUMMER. So, I jotted down some thoughts while I was reading (all 6 chapters that I'm supposed to teach on Monday) and I'm going to share them with you.
1. I loved Chapter 6s Ideas about composition. However, I have had problems in the past with having kids revise and edit. My students HATE rewriting, even refuse to rewrite. They are stuck in the I finished it, I'm not redoing it mindset. Then anything that I would suggest they edit is simply thrown back with a "I spell checked it, its good." When I tried to have them write papers long-hand, pen and paper, style and then type them-forcing a revision stage-they then refused to hand write it the next time or
thrown in the disclaimer that if they wrote it out they wouldn't type it because they aren't doing anything twice. I have not yet mastered how to motivate for and demonstrate the beauty of a second draft. (Even as I write that I know I'm going to hit spell check and not go back to revise this blog- I'm one of them).
2. As it said in the grammar
section, teaching grammar is complicated. I tried to teach grammar as a
DOL or daily activity last year and it didn't seem effective for the first quarter. After that, I kept a running list in my lesson plan book of errors that I commonly saw in my student's writing and heard in their speech. It was awesome to do mini-lessons, often random, and using
their own work to
demonstrate a part of grammar. I always prefaced it with, "you can use that speech and writing in emails or with with friends, but when you interview, are at work, or any other
professional situation, including English class, make sure to use the proper way so that you sound 'educated.'" I straight-up explained that
professional people love proper grammar and will hold it against you if you can't use it. They agreed, accepted, and even tried to change their language. Anyway, it seemed effective even though I'm sure I'll be teaching the same things next year.
3. I must confess that as a native English speaker and English major that I didn't understand English (
grammatically) until I moved to another country. Learning a 2
nd language made me understand
English better. And teaching English to non-native English speakers REALLY taught me a lot about our own language. I think this experience should be required for Masters of English (much more so than a Summer School field).
4. It didn't mention it in these sections (that I saw) but I really appreciate the standard v. slang/urban
translations. In my classroom the kids really enjoy taking rap songs and creating a 'pretty' poem or discussion. I think it teaches grammar, audience, spelling, syntax, diction, etc. You all should sign up for
UrbanDictionary.
com's word of the day emails. My first one was 'skeet' and the kids loved it.
Now, questions/requests.
Try using the sentence "Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" to explain grammar.
Has anyone seen the sentence where if you add punctuation you can change the meaning of the sentence from a sexist comment against men to against women? I would love to have it but can't find it.
Has anyone also seen the sentence where you can change the meaning of it by using different sounds for the letters based on the sounds they make in different words?
I would love more fun and hilariously irritating ways to demonstrate the
ambiguity of Standard English Grammar rules.