Grammar is Fun, No, Really
December 30th, 2009
Grammar is fun. No, really.
As with most things, it’s all in the application. I myself loathe and detest math, pretty much all of math, but I happen to be good at the multiplication tables and I blame that on a long ago teacher who used games and rhymes to teach it. I liked it then and I remember it still. Games in classrooms work.
Which is precisely where the concept of Grammar Punk™ comes from.
Making grammar lessons fun allows students to practice as well as internalize rules and procedures as a natural extension of their writing process. Because the grammar lesson is disguised as a “word game” students are much more motivated to “play.” In addition, because students are more focused on their own performance and classroom competition the grammar lessons are absorbed and become part of student repertoire.
In other words, if kids think something is fun they’re more apt to do it for longer periods of time, will remember what they did, and will more easily incorporate it. Just ask them about their favorite video game characters.
The introduction of grammar play in the classroom will also foster teacher-student as well as peer-to-peer bonding and cooperation. A healthy sense of competition will also be input in your classrooms. And because game play adds fun and laughter to a classroom, students will want to play more, which only reinforces the grammar lessons through sheer repetition.
Visit www.grammarpunk.com to see more about Grammar Punk™ and making your classroom fun.
Start the new year by making this tough subject fun to teach. And learn!