Here is another little article I found. It is more geared for those who are going to teach multiple subjects, middle school, or at the high school level. The article gives pointers for teachers on how to prepare their students for those wonderful state tests that are given at the end of the year; Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR). This article introduces using two-sided flashcards were the students over the school year create them by writing an example and its literary purpose on one side and on the other side the term and its definition. It also has pointers for teaching strategies for reading passage analysis which is on those tests. I felt that I should put this one up because in elementary through high school the students are not only being assessed by the classroom teacher; but also by the state itself. Preparing the students for those tests and starting early will only help.

To Teach or Not to Teach (Grammar)-No Longer the Question
This article was submitted to the Publishing Company of textbooks, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill by Janice Christy, M.Ed., English Department Chair, Louisa County High School, Louisa, Virginia. It is a short article which starts off with a very brief history of how teachers used to teach grammar in the classroom. Then it talks about with the testing that is being put on middle school and high students and the notion that teachers can no longer assume that the students will grasp grammar through reading, writing, and speaking. It gives pointers on what to do by assessment of the level the students are at and planning instruction from the pre-assessment that includes three to four grammar skills to focus on each week. The goal I believe for this article is to weave the grammar amongst the reading and writing part of the curriculum.

The article talks about Pedagogy Grammar (PG) and the different programs that teach it to second language learners (SLL) both in Canada and the United States. The two main programs in the article are Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The author writes about the differences between the two programs and the similarities. The article is also based on the fact that it analyzed 39 self-reporting questionnaires and 23 course syllabi which provided the information for this article. (Wang) The article talks about the PG and tells how TESOL should be teaching to the SLL or what is important for them to learn.
Works Cited
Wang, W. (n.d.). How is Pedagogical Grammar Defined in Current TESOL Train Practice? Retrieved from Simon Fraser University Library : http://journals.sfu.ca/tesl/index.php/tesl/article/viewFile/274/207

http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/cacounts/CC_202STCC.pdf


I found this article to be a little bit interesting for the simple fact it was actually from an EDTE class that I am taking this semester. The title is The Linguistic Landscape of California Schools by Sonya M. Tafoya. In the article one of the main topics is how California ESL students are mostly English learners, but are not immigrants into the U.S. They are actually born here in America. The article stated that Spanish may be the predominate language in California, but there are 55 other languages that are now being seen in the California school systems. The article also had maps showing the regions in which the ESL students are attending schools. "Even California's North Coast region, comprising sparsely populated Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties, has seen the number of English learners grow from almost 700 students in 1981 to 3,700 student in 2000." I grew up in Humboldt County and when I went there this winter I agree with the fact that there are a lot more diversity than when I attended Mckinleyville High. I like has this article show facts and where the trends are happening. The article also makes it clear that teachers need to be able to teach to ESL students more so than in the past. Now I am glad this is my concentration for my liberal studies. We are going to need it out there.

A side note; the article is in pdf form. You can Google the title and find it on the web.