2024 ICTE Fall Conference

Grammar and language instruction has long been, in the words of Brock Haussamen in Grammar Alive!, “the skunk at the garden party of the language arts" that turns many eager learners into disengaged participants. But why? How does grammar—something so relevant and essential that we use it in the creation of every syllable we say, write, or think—often become one of the dullest and most disconnected parts of the ELA classroom?
Good Grammar will explore this question and offer practical, on-the-ground solutions from a full-time teacher for how to make grammar and language instruction more accessible, practical, and connected to students’ reading, writing, and most importantly, the deep well of language knowledge they bring with them already. The title—Good Grammar—seeks to remind us that grammar doesn’t have to be boring or feel punitive. Instead, it can be a force for good for more students, affirming who they are, honoring the language expertise they bring with them, and helping them to bring their unique voices to the page.