Grammar to Enrich and Enhance Writing by Constance Weaver

by Constance Weaver

sGrammar to Enrich and Enhance Writing is Connie Weaver's latest treasure for grammar instruction that strengthens writing. Born from the ideas and research in her much-loved Teaching Grammar in Context, and benefiting from the creativity of her colleague Jonathan Bush, this new resource goes even further to bring the best research, theory, and practices into the classroom.sGrammar to Enrich and Enhance Writing is three helpful books in one. In the first part, Weaver outlines the latest theories, research, and principles that underlie high-quality grammar instruction for writing. She demonstrates that specific, effective grammar-teaching address all of the 6 Traits of writing instruction emphasize depth, not breadth should be positive, productive, and practical - not stodgy, “correct,” and limiting must be incorporated throughout the writing process, not broken out in isolated units. sIn part two, Weaver links theory and practice. Her explicit, classroom-proven teaching ideas, strategies, and lessons address key subjects as diverse as helping students make better stylistic use of modifiers, incorporating grammar into revision, and mapping grammar instruction to the curriculum.sMostly in part three, she invites members of the field into a discussion of high-quality grammar instruction. Jeff Anderson (Mechanically Inclined)Rebecca Wheeler (Code-Switching), sand other practicing teachers describe their teaching - how they model the vital role grammar plays in guiding students through the editing process, how they respond to student errors, how they help English Language Learners edit for conventional English, and how grammar supports code-switching among speakers of African American English. Like Weaver's, their ideas are ready for immediate classroom implementation.sGrammar to Enrich and Enhance Writing is what teachers have been waiting an up-to-date, ready-to-use, comprehensive resource for leading students to a better understanding of grammar as an aid to more purposeful, detailed, and sophisticated writing.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Writing

Paperback

First published January 10, 2008

Reviews

[Christine Norvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan. Integrated grammar has been my heart for a long time after I read Weaver's first book 20 years ago. THIS one improves upon that instruction and provides many hands-on examples to use immediately. (It also happens to nicely echo many of Charlotte Mason's teachings from a century ago.)

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grammar instruction is something that most teachers, and teacher candidates like me, try to avoid. We are so insecure on our own grammar issues that we can't fathom making grammar engaging and something that students will value. Weaver offers many alternatives to the old style of grammar instruction and tools to use throughout this book. She shifts to focus of grammar from the rules to the writer, and makes it relevant to students. I particularly enjoyed her focus on second-language learners and cultural differences in grammar, as it is a bit of territory most grammarians don't venture into and it was very relevant to my daily life and the daily life of the students I observe in the predominately Hispanic high school I am in.

[Nonfiction-- KCM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Key Concepts & Quotations

“Regardless of the hopes of parents, politicians, administrators, and teachers, research does not show that teaching grammar in isolation has significant benefits for most students’ writing. Another general belief, based on folklore, has been that novice writers need a thorough intellectual understanding of the language they are using in order to be fluent in it. This, too, is a myth, as demonstrated by the experience of many fluent published writers who don’t “know” grammar consciously.
“Thus the thesis of our text: that a minimum of grammar should be taught, in the context of and in conjunction with writing, for maximal effects on students’ writing. Teaching writing and teaching grammar must be inseparably connected. Unlike some traditional views that consider grammar an issue of simple correctness, consisting of error hunts and drills on the “basics,” we see grammar, selectively taught, as a resource for writers, necessarily tied to the writing process and inherently connected to issues of invention, drafting, revision and editing, proofreading and publication” (52).

Reasons for NOT teaching traditional grammar
1. Teaching grammar in isolation produces little if any improvement.
2. Traditional grammars define parts of speech in inconsistent and confusing ways.
3. Traditional grammar books have focused mostly on analyzing language and eliminating errors.
4. Traditional grammars urge writers to follow archaic and arbitrary rules.

Twelve principles supporting an approach to grammar instruction that is positive, productive, and practical
1. Teaching grammar divorced from writing doesn’t strengthen writing and therefore wastes time.
2. Few grammatical terms are actually needed to discuss writing.
3. Sophisticated grammar is fostered in literacy-rich and language-rich environments.
4. Grammar instruction for writing should build on students’ developmental readiness.
5. Grammar options are best expanded through reading and in conjunction with writing.
6. Grammar conventions taught in isolation seldom transfer to writing.
7. Marking “corrections” on students’ papers does little good.
8. Grammar conventions are applied most readily when taught in conjunction with reading.
9. Instruction in conventional editing skills is important for all students but must honor their home language or dialect.
10. Progress may involve new kinds of errors as students try to apply new writing skills.
11. Grammar instruction should be included during various phases of writing.
12. More research is needed on effective ways of teaching grammar to strengthen writing.

[Elizabeth Suggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll definitely be using some of these exercises in practice!

[Ellery Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive and productive!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate this text because it offers specific examples of how you can teach grammar in your classroom. I especially enjoyed the last two chapters in which Weaver talks about code-switching and teaching grammar to ELL students. These chapters were very relevant to my field experience, and I can implement some of the ideas immediately and effectively. This text also helped me brush up on my own grammar as well! : )

[Katie Allender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, AWESOME book!! Teaching grammar in the middle/high school setting is never easy, but Weaver's book offers great guidance when thinking of composing lessons and activities related to grammar. I highly reccomend if one is looking to learn about teaching grammar effectively or is looking for ways to enhance teaching grammar lessons.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting different perspective about how we should teach grammar in grade school, middle school, and high school. As an editor who did not retain much of the grammatical concepts or terms from her education, I found this approach refreshing and supportive of teaching grammatical patterns, through the writing process, and allowing errors to represent growth and learning in writing.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read packed full of example lesson ideas. A must for grammar or mixed ELA teachers.

[Ruth Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for all high school composition teachers. I am learning a new way of thinking about grammar, one that fits with student-centered learning.

[Robert Hultman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some interesting ideas and some good real life examples to go along, but is somewhat long-winded and repetative.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the book kind of harps on the idea of not teaching grammar in isolation, the strategies and information - including some grammar lessons for the reader - are excellent.

[Candice Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the philosophy behind grammar instruction but I was a little uninspired by some of the examples given. Regardless, this book will definitely be on my desk in the classroom.