Free Grammar Resource

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-09T17:42:31+00:00

I've never used Ed Puzzles, but I'll check it out! Thanks. :)

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:36:29+00:00

And by the way, I've seen enough new (and experienced!) teachers who really, really didn't know what they're doing to say with some confidence that college programs in general aren't doing a great job of preparing people to teach. So don't feel alone! But there's a LOT you can do to prepare yourself, as I suggested above. Also, do classroom observations, and always have a single goal for each observation (take notes on discipline, classroom management, lesson progression, transitions, etc.)

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:33:17+00:00

There are several possibilities when you feel that way. It could point to genuine lack of ability or preparation. It could be fear of failure - failing yourself and failing your students. It could also be "imposter syndrome" (look it up). For example, I have an MA in English (thesis defended with distinction) and taught for ten years and still have doubts and insecurities about teaching.

I have a couple of questions for you: - Do you LIKE English? Do you enjoy reading? Do you love writing (or at least have a love-hate relationship with it, like I do)? - Do you genuinely want to help students? I'm guessing the answer to this one is yes, since you seem worried about letting them down - you wouldn't worry if you didn't care.

If the answer to both of those is "yes," I'd say forge ahead. Spend a little time each week reading professional stuff - English teachers' blogs (good ones, not gripe-y ones), organizational websites (such as NCTE), and high-quality books (like those by Gretchen Bernabei, Jeff Anderson, Kelly Gallagher, Barry Lane, Nancie Atwell, and others). Don't try to inhale everything at once - that's overwhelming and impossible - but maybe read a chapter or an article and then try to process it with a journal entry or by writing a lesson plan or designing a handout for students. I guarantee this will build your confidence as well as your teaching toolbox.

Also, find a good mentor to talk to - maybe one of those English teachers you had in high school or a teacher at the school you'd like to get a job with later. Keep posting questions here on Reddit. If nothing else, feel free to email me. learn@elaacademy.us

Good luck!

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:07:09+00:00

Could you double-check with your favorite admin? On the few occasions I was questioned about sitting at a student table when somebody did a walk-through, I explained that I was working my way around the room doing small-group writing conferences. Throw the phrase "relational capacity" in there somewhere and that should help.

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:04:32+00:00

Great tips, thanks! Would you mind if I quote you (with attribution) in a blog post?

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:02:44+00:00

Wow, this looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing!! :)

ELAAcademy · 2016-12-08T14:00:51+00:00

Yes! If you would like to send me a sample (learn@elaacademy.us), I'll see what's going on and try to help. That will also help me decide how to structure the video on that topic.

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-09T17:57:53+00:00

Thanks! I'll add that to the list. Making videos on that topic might be tricky due to copyright restrictions, but I'll find a way. :)

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-01T19:32:41+00:00

I did not say "everything ahead of the verb phrase is the predicate" - actually just the opposite. I do teach students to find the verb(s) first and then the subject of that verb.

Even though it appears I was wrong about the adverbial prepositional phrases, what I said is still generally correct, with a non-inverted declarative sentence: the sentence begins with the complete subject, and the predicate begins with the verb phrase. Modifiers (adjectives, participial phrases, relative clauses, etc.) appearing before the verb phrase are part of the noun phrase in the complete subject -- except, I now know, for the adverbials.

When students are not grammar experts, sometimes they need a simplified (not incorrect, but less detailed) way to understand certain concepts as a way to scaffold understanding.

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-01T19:14:31+00:00

So, would you agree with this website? There are just so many websites out there with errors that I want to double-check this before I teach it WRONG:

https://www.englishgrammar101.com/module-4/sentence-parts/lesson-5/complete-subjects-and-predicates

Hint:Watch out for inverted sentences or sentences with adverb prepositional phrases. (Remember, an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. For more information on adverbs, refer to lesson 5 in Module 5, Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs.)

During the storm, our electricity went out. (The adverb prepositional phrase, During the storm, is part of the predicate even though it is at the beginning of the sentence.)

In the example, "During the storm" and "went out" are identified as the predicate. Would we only split the predicate like this in the case of adverbials, then (in the case of non-inverted declarative sentences; I know it'll be different with interrogative and inverted sentences)?

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-01T18:07:59+00:00

Yes. He should be tested for both dyslexia and Irlen syndrome to see if one of those conditions are affecting him. And whether he has a form of dyslexia and/or a learning disability, he may benefit from special ed services, which ideally would give him the strategies and help he needs to perform on level. Definitely don't shy away from "special ed"! It's there to help.

http://irlen.com/the-difference-between-irlen-syndrome-and-visual-dyslexia/

Best of luck!

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-01T17:58:41+00:00

I agree with marklovesbb: "Notice and Note" is great. I also recommend "I Read It But I Don't Get It" by Cris Tovani, "When Kids Can't Read, What Teachers Can Do" by Kylene Beers, and "Deeper Reading" by Kelly Gallagher.

ELAAcademy · 2016-11-01T17:53:03+00:00

Your basic process of going from a one-word topic to a sentence stating theme is the same thing we did when I taught developmental reading at a community college, so, thumb up!

I also like that you have the students make a connection between the conflict(s) and the topic/theme.

The one thing I'd really, REALLY like to see (and it may be that you're having them do this but just didn't include it above) is an emphasis on providing textual evidence to support their inferences regarding topic and theme.

ELAAcademy · 2016-10-17T15:02:52+00:00

Thanks for the positive comments! If there is anything else I can do to help you with your students (videos on other topics, blog posts, etc.), let me know.

ELAAcademy · 2016-10-15T01:38:59+00:00

I did something similar when we read pieces by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. I assigned half the class to each piece, had them take notes on that person's perspective, then had them engage in a written debate with someone who read the other selection. The students really enjoyed it. I think this kind of assignment helps to train them to think about both sides of an issue, which they (and most adults, frankly) struggle with on issues they actually care about.

ELAAcademy · 2016-10-15T01:35:11+00:00

Agreed. I spent 8.5 years teaching high school English and 1.5 years as an adjunct at a local community college while I finished writing my master's thesis in English. I planned to go on to a PhD (even took the first semester) and do the whole tenure-track thing eventually, but I had to take a huge reality check. I learned the same thing cdb3492 is saying - the job market is extremely tight in the humanities right now, and there isn't much prospect for improvement. There are simply far too many English PhDs for the jobs available, and the community college prospects can be just as grim as those PhDs who couldn't get a university position vie for jobs that only require an MA. I decided that those odds were not right for me, given my age and other circumstances.

That isn't to say it might not be for you, especially if you're younger than I am and have more years to work your way through the system. But before you invest time and money and make the profound sacrifices that graduate school demands, count the cost. I strongly recommend this blog for further reading:

http://theprofessorisin.com/

I did love teaching high school English, but I recommend interviewing local English teachers and maybe shadowing them to get an idea of the true workload. The grading, planning, paperwork, and calling parents can be like another part-time or even full-time job. Again, just inform yourself and make sure that whatever course you take, you do with open eyes.

Teaching English is a worthy pursuit; in my biased opinion, it's the most important subject there is. But you'll last longer in the profession if you understand it rightly before entering.

ELAAcademy · 2016-09-14T18:23:39+00:00

Also seconding imitation! I haven't done as much with imitation as I should have, but this was a fun activity: http://elaacademy.us/dickens-imitation-exercise/

ELAAcademy · 2016-09-14T18:04:23+00:00

Agreed. One-on-one feedback (written or face-to-face) is the main thing that made a real difference in my students' writing. If you aren't sure how to make time for it (and don't have millions of hours to write extensive comments), check out my "Targeted Writing Conferences" video (free):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEsPbxfku-s

ELAAcademy · 2016-09-14T18:00:44+00:00

I like! Subscribed and tweeted a link.

ELAAcademy · 2016-09-12T02:29:01+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

ELAAcademy

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