Trying something new this year with grammar. Calling it “Grammar Growth: An exposure and experience model to learning grammar.”

After Smiles and Frowns, it will be our daily five-minute exposure to and experience with grammar. The goal is not to make kids experts with grammar; no, the goal is to give them consistent experiences in the hopes that they grow some with the more conventional aspects of our content.

Here is what I will tell the kids as we begin today.

“Grammar Growth activities are for you to do and for us to discuss. You will not leave here experts, but you will leave here more experienced. You will grow with grammar this year.”

Here is the basic approach. My grade-level colleagues and I will use Google Slides to guide our work. Here is what we will use today.

From the daily exposure and experience, kids are really building a resource. To continue their experiences, we will give kids regular “learning checks” (assessments) for which they may use their resources, their notebooks. We will never grade or collect their notebooks. We don’t want to create a compliance situation; we want to create a context of commitment. Their resources will be as valuable as they make them. They may even add additional, outside-the-lesson notes to their resources–their resources.

Our “lessons” will never last longer than five minutes. We will set a timer and stick to it. Sometimes we may be done sooner. I anticipate today’s first lesson will be shorter.

The kids will do. We will discuss. And we will move on.

Grammar in isolation? Grammar at all? Yes. And Yes. In an ideal situation, I would probably offer ” no, and no,” but in this “real situation” where kids will still be called on to “achieve” in the context of grammar, we feel like we are obligated to support them. But we feel like that support might come best in the form of experience and exposure. No high stakes (kids can correct/retake Learning Checks a million times if they desire). No pretense (they will not leave here experts). Just intentional exposure and experience in the hopes that some things might make sense, in the hopes that some things might stick.

Perfect? Hardly. Better? I don’t know. But can’t know if I don’t try. So I’m trying to know. Trying. That’s all I can do.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…growing with grammar.

…considering theme and the human experience.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all. Hope you have a great start to your week.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.