[etni] Re: English classes to focus on grammar, vocabulary

Wow.  This is very interesting.  I graduated from BHS in the mid 70's. True,
we didn't have grammar classes.  However, we did learn grammar in all our
classes -- not only English.  All our teachers taught us writing.  The only
class that we didn't learn to write in was Math.  We learned writing in all
the subjects that we studied.  In order to teach us to write properly, all
our teachers also worked with us on grammar, even the History and Science
teachers.  However, we weren't taught "Grammar" as a subject.  I wonder if
reintroducing grammar as a subject is going to make a positive change on
what is happening in schools there.
Michele Ben


On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 8:44 AM, Ask_Etni <ask@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> English classes to focus on grammar, vocabulary
> Brookline
>
> The hottest new thing in English classes these days isn't actually new.
> It's diagramming sentences.
>
> The English Language Arts program for Brookline schools is implementing a
> new curriculum focusing on handwriting, spelling and vocabulary instruction,
> according to the ELA Phase II Program Review.
> Brookline High freshmen and sophomores were the first to see the grammar
> units, which started this year. In the next few years, the elementary
> schools will also see more grammar sections. The emphasis on grammar is
> motivated, in part, to help students do better on the SAT writing section.
> The second motivator is to maintain consistency in what Brookline students
> learn in English class, from elementary schools up to the high school.
>
> "In terms of grammar, I do think that the pendulum is swinging back a
> little," said Mary Burchenal, the 9-12 English Language Arts coordinator.
> "We've gone through a couple of decades of grammar being thought of as
> outmoded somehow, or that what was really important was the process of
> writing … I would say now it has changed much more over to people who feel
> that grammar's really important."
>
> (To read the whole article, go to -
>
> http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/news/x1902443652/English-classes-to-focus-on-grammar-vocabulary
>   )
>
>
>
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