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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 6:25am | IP Logged
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In this thread Jen mentioned "living grammar" books. Here's the quote:
"** I have my upper level kids read a lot of what I consider living grammar: Eats, Shoots and Leaves, The Elements of Style, The Lively Art of Writing....and many others. "**
This is an area that I am a bit timid about! I have always used a program of some sort, and usually it is a struggle. I'm wondering if using more of a "living grammar" approach would help. I know I still need to study formal grammar, but I'm thinking of an addition to that study. Something to seal it, or help them grasp it and apply it.
Jen mentioned three such books in the quote above. Any other recommendations and for what ages? Also, how would these be used? Independent reading for the child? Read alouds? One on one tutoring situations? ...
Would you formally incorporate them in with the lessons from the formal text, or would it be a more random reading of these books? ...
I'm sure these are all possible scenarios. I'm just trying to think of how I would do this. This is new territory for me.
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SallyT
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 7:18am | IP Logged
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I've used Eats, Shoots and Leaves with high schoolers, and my 8th-grader has also read it. It's lively and funny, which is what makes the grammar lessons stick.
There are one or two slightly off-color references, as I recall, which mostly arise from the misplacing of commas and apostrophes (to illustrate how unfortunate sloppy grammar can be), so you'd want to pre-read before giving it to your child. Reading aloud would enable you to edit out those references -- there are plenty of other equally good examples of pretty much every possible error.
My kids also love Richard Lederer's Anguished English. While ES&L is definitely an upper-level book, even my 8- and 9yos think Anguished English is hilarious, and it's the kind of book I just leave around for people to pick up, or read bits of aloud at the dinner table. It's more a series of examples without a lot of prose to tie them together, so its literary merit is not as high as ES&L's, but it's still good fun.
Sally
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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Favorite living grammar books in order they are used:
Grammarland by M.L. Nesbitt - best suited as a read aloud and is an excellent living book on the parts of speech and how they function. Probably most appropriate for 4th - 6th graders.
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss - this book is such a delight to read! It is one of our favorite books! Used for 7th grade.
Woe is I by Patricia O'Connor - very humorous, love the mnemonic devices in here! High School. There is a Jr. Version that would work well for Middle School.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk and EB White - a classic, classic, classic!! Mr. Strunk was a college English professor and attempted to whittle down all the methods and rules and formulas for grammar, disentangled them from one another, and taught them to his classes in a very simplified, straightforward form - he liked to say that he hoped they would fit on the head of a pin. Into his class one day strolled Mr. E.B. White.....as in Charlotte's Web E.B. White. He was struck by Mr. Strunk's work, and about 38 years later he condensed and further polished Mr. Strunk's original offering until it became a book, The Elements of Style. It shouldn't be missed! Because it is SO concentrated in practical content, I ask for very little reading of this gem at a time. The book is broken very succinctly down into 3 larger topics, which we cover one term at a time. The little book is only 85 pages long, but approached slowly and given time to sink it, it can provide a lifetime of grammar richness and understanding! Used in High school.
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These fall more under writing/composition, but I'll include them anyway:
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The Elements of Editing by Arthur Plotnik - this is a fantastic look at editing as part of writing, and really works well as part of a later high school look at writing and editing as an extension of writing. High school.
On Writing Well by William Zinser - this is an excellent book, and the author's passion for writing is evident. His approach is consistent with our language arts/writing approach from the beginning: write with passion and write about that which you know! High School
The Lively Art of Writing by Lucille Vaughan Payne - highly recommended! Vaughn's style of writing is engaging and personal, and she doesn't waste time or words in conveying ideas. It's a succinct little jewel which is a very natural extension of Julie Bogart's writing programs (Bravewriter), and our own personal philosophy, in which we emphasize a growing writer finding his/her own voice, own style, and writing about ideas which they know about. It's very practical and also conversational as it assists a writer in essay writing form and tools. Move through it slowly allowing time to digest. High School
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HOW I USE THEM:
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I usually assign them as independent reading, and the book stretches across a couple of terms, or even a year. My daughter narrates weekly on the living grammar she reads, usually a written narration, which summarizes what she's read. I particularly like to ask for a written narration of a living grammar book, because it's easier to see how the grammar which was read about translates to their writing, and it really cements the lesson learned quite well, as do all narrations.
It's actually pretty simple and there is very little for me to do, so it's very low-maintenance on my part.
I'd love to hear of other living grammar books if others have additional suggestions!
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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OH! I was going to ask more about some of those titles from the other thread. I am so glad you started this, Becky.
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Kathryn
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 1:49pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss - this book is such a delight to read! It is one of our favorite books! Used for 7th grade. |
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It appears there are several books with a similar beginning title by the same author. Any comment on those?
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 7:29pm | IP Logged
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Kathryn wrote:
Mackfam wrote:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss - this book is such a delight to read! It is one of our favorite books! Used for 7th grade. |
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It appears there are several books with a similar beginning title by the same author. Any comment on those? |
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This Eats Shoots, and Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference! by same author is just adapted for younger audience. It's short, less datail and fewer examples - more like picture book. There is also an illustrated version of the main one posted first. Those are the differences I am aware of between those with similar title.
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 8:17pm | IP Logged
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I wanted to plug the book I Laid an Egg on Aunt Ruth's Head. It was written by a local homeschooling Father and it is awesome.
My DH and son are working through it this year (5th grade). Honestly, I think that this is a bit young....for my next dc I think I will wait for 7-8th grade. My DH can't say enough good about it. It is really a funny story and it goes though all of the grammar that is widely misused.
You can also buy work sheets to go with the book which really help drive the points home. I like the accountability with such an enjoyable book, otherwise I think you might not really dive all of the nuances home.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 20 2012 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
Kathryn wrote:
Mackfam wrote:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss - this book is such a delight to read! It is one of our favorite books! Used for 7th grade. |
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It appears there are several books with a similar beginning title by the same author. Any comment on those? |
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This Eats Shoots, and Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference! by same author is just adapted for younger audience. It's short, less datail and fewer examples - more like picture book. There is also an illustrated version of the main one posted first. Those are the differences I am aware of between those with similar title. |
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I'm glad Mary could answer for you, Kathryn. I knew about the other books, and assumed they were just meant for a younger reader, but I've never seen inside them or read them. Our only experience has been with the original book.
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Jen Mackintosh
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Living Grammar books
