John Bracey on Verb Conjugation
Responding to Eric on the Sandra Savignon article*, John Bracey said: "Very important point, Eric. We haven’t happened upon a better way to prepare kids for conjugating verbs or declining nouns. We have learned how to teach a language to another
Krashen on Grammar
Dr. Krashen states: There is nothing wrong with talking about grammar occasionally. Eric Herman stated my position about grammar and output very well on your blog. Even a dictation once in a while (especially as it relates to French culture!). In fact,
Live A Little With Grammar
I am and will always remain of the firm and studied opinion that grammar teachers secretly hate their jobs and yearn for something exciting but are afraid to leave the shores of book safety that have kept them wallowing in
An Indictment
This, from John Bracey, is telling. It is almost the equivalent of a criminal indictment on grammar teachers. It really burns me up: I remember having a conversation with some upper level high school students about how they made it this
Tough Question
This one is from Keri: Hi Ben, I have a question that maybe the PLC could help me with. Last year was my first "TPRS" year and, of course, those students are with other teachers. (I am the only TPRS / CI
John Bracey on Grammar
From John Piazza: On Latin Best Practices today, John Bracey shared some real insight about the traditional way of teaching grammar. It certainly resonates with my experience, as both teacher and learner of Latin: "I think that it is hard for traditional
Question for the Group
In 2009-2010 Annick Chen at Lincoln High School was asked by her administrative team, along with every teacher in the building, to make writing the focal point for that year. Ever dutiful, but knowing full well how people acquire languages,
Report from the Field – Michele Whaley
Dear Ben, As I head off to Latvia to oversee an intensive Russian study program for 14 kids who have done well in three years of Russian, I find an email in my box with the results of our school's Russian
"Oh, We Do That Next Year!"
Kids don't need to learn gramar. If they want, those few that do can do that years later, once they are able to demonstrate that they can hear the language and identify what it means and read it in a
Jim Tripp on the Conjugation Police
The conjugation police are out there as we all know, but they’re super lame and not to be taken too seriously. I usually ask my kids when they (one or two type A students) are fretting because they aren’t picking up the