Imprint
Heinemann
Author(s)
Sandra Wilde
Imprint
Heinemann
Author(s)
Sandra Wilde
“By the time you finish reading this book, you’ll have a solid plan for spending an appropriate amount of time on language topics that will move kids forward in their spoken and written expression, their ability to talk about language in technical ways using appropriate terminology, and their understanding of language in its social, cultural, and historical contexts.”
—Sandra Wilde
Grammar—doesn’t it seem so 19th century? In Funner Grammar, Sandra Wilde approaches language learning in ways that reflect contemporary usage, including respectful and celebratory treatment of American language diversity. Help your students learn about language for its own sake—without mind-numbing workbook exercises— with sample lessons and fresh ways of thinking about:
With appendices that suggest topics and units of study for different grade-level ranges, connections to the Common Core State Standards, and lists of selected readings for teachers and kids, Funner Grammar provides the tools to help kids explore and understand the fascinating and ever-changing world of grammar. Read Funner Grammar and provide your students with knowledge that will serve them in meeting language and grammar expectations in school and the world outside the classroom.
1. Mechanics: Conventions Found Only in Written Language
Is It the Right Word?
Capital Letters
Apostrophes Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms
Where Do the Sentences Break?
Not Enough for a Sentence or Too Much: Fragments and Run-Ons
Paragraphing Text Features Beyond the Paragraph
Bibliographic Citation
2. Nitty-Gritty Grammar: Words, Tenses, Sentences, and Complexity
Parts of SpeechVerb Tenses
Exploring Verb Tenses
How Sentences Work
Sentence and Text Complexity
3. Usage
Usage as a Social Marker
Talking About Usage with Students
Generational Usage Issues: Lost Battles and Losing Battles
Social-Group Usage Issues
English Language Learners and Usage
Usage and Word Choice: It’s Alternative, Not Alternate
A Footnote on Usage: Who’s in Charge Here?
4. Language Diversity and Social Justice
Myths About Language Variation
Working with Students With—and Without—Stigmatized Features in Their Language
So Now What?
5. Linguistics for Kids
What Is Language?
How Many Languages Are There in the World?
Where Did Language Come From?
What’s the Oldest Language? What’s the Newest One? What’s the Simplest One? The Most Complicated One?
Is Sign Language Really a Language?
Where Does the Alphabet Come From, and Why Doesn’t Everyone Use the Same One?
Is It True That People Taught Gorillas and Chimpanzees to Use Language?
Where Do People’s Names Come From?
Will We All Speak the Same Language Someday?
Appendices
A. Language Curriculum Year by Year
B. The Common Core State Standards
C. Text Features for Student Writing: A Style Guide
D. Annotated Bibliographies
E. Literature in Different Versions of American English: Is It Authentic?