Grammar and Syntax

Syntax:
Syntax describes the systematic ways in which words are combined to create well-formed  phrases, clauses, and sentences as well as the sytematic ways in which clauses and sentences combine to become more complex. 

Open Class Lexical Categories

Lexical Categories
Nouns   
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs

Sytactic Description
Nouns:  Occur after determiners, determiners + adjectives, or adjectives
Adjectives:  Determiners + ADJ +Noun, Linking verb +ADJ, Adv. +ADJ
Verbs: Aux+Verb, Verb! (as an imperative)
Adverbs:  ADV+adj, ADJ+Verb, Verb+ADV, ADV+ADV

The Grammar of Sentences Video Series

1.  Clauses and Sentences

3.  Word Order

2.  Phrases vs. Dependencies

4.  Building Rules
Grammar and syntax are an essential tool in all classrooms.  For far too long the task of teaching literacy and writing has fallen specifically on Language Arts teachers.  These four podcasts can help improve your knowledge of the language that you instruct in.  If you start to embrace knowledge of the English language then you will be much better at instructing your students about how to improve their's. 

Suggestions for the Classroom:

1.  Embrace teaching skill over specific content curriculum.  It is far more important for our students to read and write than it is to produce rote memorization on a multiple choice, high stakes, summative assessment.

2.  Colaborate with your Language Arts and ESOL teachers and ask how you can be infuse grammar and syntax into your lesson planning. 

3.  Don't be fearful of making mistakes.  Kids will find it endearing that you are willing to take risks, ask questions, and generally show the education is a continual process.  It will encourage them to follow your lead!