My Approach

When I was in elementary school, teachers placed a huge emphasis on grammar. We learned about misplaced modifiers and dangling participles. We studied verb tenses and punctuation. We spent time diagramming sentences.

Today, the focus has shifted. Much of the change is good — students are taught to approach problems critically and are exposed to technology in the classroom. But they are no longer steeped in grammar in the same rigorous way.

Lacking a solid foundation in grammar impairs your ability to communicate effectively. Grammar errors reduce credibility and impair clarity. Gaps in grammar also make it difficult to learn a foreign language. How can you conjugate verbs when you don’t understand the concepts of first, second and third person?

My approach to grammar education is to develop a personalized curriculum for each student. I utilize pre-tests to assess preliminary understanding, assignments to provide opportunities for practice, and post-tests to measure progress.

Should students today still be able to diagram a sentence? Absolutely!