Question:
I teach middle school English and go to OSU. I am researching how (or
if) students and teachers use grammar in classes other than English.
Many teachers comment to me that our students do not use correct grammar
or mechanics.
If you are a teacher of any subject at any level, but especially middle
school and high school, please let me know the following:
1. What do you teach?
2. Do you require that your students use correct grammar and mechanics
on their work? If yes, do you incorporate those skills into your
grading? If no, why not?
3. What grammar errors do you see most often in your classes?
4. (Especially for English teachers) Do you work with other teachers to
help incorperate grammar across the curriculum?
5. What kinds of writing assignments do you give your students?
Answer:
Yes, grammar is an integral part of my curriculum! We emphasize it when
teaching Business English, Word Processing, and Job Readiness. Students
are expected to compose letters, write resumes, and compose answers to
their other assignments using the computer. They are given spelling
tests and learn how to apply punctuation, capitalization, and rules for
the expression of numbers, to name a few areas of English instruction.
Students have lots of problems with how to apply punctuation--especially
commas and apostrophes. Subject/verb agreement is also a problem.
Errors in capitalization are frequent. They know how to begin a
sentence with a capital letter, but they often type Labor day instead of
Labor Day.
Our school has a computerized basic skills lab, and our students visit twice a week for 30 minutes each. Students work on lessons t=
hat emphasize grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
See answer to No. 2 above.
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