Importance of Grammar Lessons in English Classes

How important is grammar to a high school English class? As a teacher how do you determine when and how to have grammar lessons? Should grammar be taught regularly? All are questions that can be asked and addressed regarding the role of grammar in a typical high school English class. In class we have been reading about and discussing grammar. I have never been comfortable with grammar and that has become one of my fears especially as a I pursue teaching. In high school and throughout my years in school I always had my mom or dad read through my papers to check for any errors. And even though I have been in English classes for all of my schooling grammar wasn't really taught. There wasn't much emphasis on grammar it was more based on content.

I do wish that I was given more instruction regarding grammar other than the brief lessons given first semester of Freshman year English. I think that once I become an English teacher my focus on grammar will come into play through writing just so its not just based on the strict nature of day to day grammar lessons on different concepts. By the time you reach high school literature classes in 11th and 12th grade grammar lessons become much less frequent and are incorporated in writing assignments or given as a part of a mini lesson.

Grammar instruction is important but I think there is certain way to go about teaching it depending on the English class and the students age and skill level. Grammar is something that should be taught starting at a young age, in elementary school and then reinforced through middle school and early high school. I do wish I received more grammar instruction in my schooling because now as a college freshman I don't feel incredibly confident in all aspects of grammar.

Thoughts on Literature

In the current chapter of Clearing the Way the topic of teaching and writing about literature is discussed. My favorite part of all the English classes I have taken has always been the analysis of literature. I always enjoyed the process of developing ideas about a book or short story as well as having my English teachers lecture on the content. In my experience I didn't necessarily have to write about the literature we read everyday, I was assigned maybe one or two writing assignments per book. But as I read about Mr. Romano's classroom I can see the importance of utilizing both writing and reading together in any high school English class. Overall the process of writing in accordance with reading makes more sense in the application of the two. 

I always enjoyed looking for themes, and symbols within the text. Romano has students take the time before reading/starting a book or short story he has students write, nonstop. They write for ten to fifteen minutes and during this period they have to explore possible themes and explore the topic of the reading. I think such a process would help open up the minds of students to help later in the analysis of the book because they have first impressions to refer back too. Writing prior to reading also lets students give first impressions and give first assumptions on book, it also allows an expression of emotion about a book, a genre or an overall opinion of reading. Having students write would help a teacher cater the lessons to the original thoughts of the students. The writing assignments before would also be well used if after the reading is complete the students got the assignment back and wrote a follow-up, to see if things turned out as expected. 

Through development as a teacher I know that I'll be able to apply writing and reading together with some creative ideas and projects. Hopefully I will be able to peak the interest of students so that reading and analysis becomes enjoyable.