Jill Carter dispels the popular myth that grammar is boring and explains why she thinks it should be revered by teachers and students alike. In the years I have spent around teaching, one of the main subject-related complaints of English teachers is SPaG. The main complaints seem to be: ‘I wasn’t taught grammar […]
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Punctuation does what it says on the tin – it punctuates. It ensures that our reader is clear about our intended meaning. Whilst it is important to use it correctly, I am a strong advocate of punctuation being employed carefully and thoughtfully in order to craft the writer’s intended meaning. After all, there is often […]
Read moreHow important is good spelling, really? Is it still vital in a world of typed documents, emails and auto correct? Isn’t it the quality of writing we should be worried about, rather than the spelling of the words themselves? Perhaps, as Mark Twain observed, ‘anyone who can only think of one way to spell a […]
Read moreWe’re all very busy here in the office, looking forward to the ALL Language World conference in just over a month in Rugby. While preparations for us are full steam ahead, we thought it might be a good time to look back at the lessons we learnt from last years’ conference. A lasting impression Something that jumped out in […]
Read moreTo get a reaction, while pointing out the window, I asked ‘Well, if the plural of mouse is mice, why isn’t the plural of house hice?’ This is an example of confusing plurals that I have often used over the years during Y7 lessons when one of the learners has commented on something in the foreign […]
Read moreIn May, Year 6 will be tested for the first time on the content of the new curriculum for grammar, punctuation and spelling. We’ve taken a look at the sample tests and test frameworks to see what’s the same, what’s different, and what to watch out for. Paper 1: Grammar and punctuation Like the 2015 paper, children will have […]
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This spring, for the first time, Year 2 children will sit a formal grammar, spelling and punctuation test. We’ve taken a look at the sample tests and test frameworks to see what’s in store for them (and for you). Paper 1: Spelling The spelling test takes 15 minutes, though this is not strictly timed. It consists of […]
Read moreThere have been a lot of interesting articles about the teaching of languages in the news recently. If you are looking for something new to use on the European Day of Languages (26th September), then you might consider this article from the Guardian. I’m sure you’ll agree that inspiring lifelong learning is really important. Extracts from this article could be used to […]
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Curriculum changes mean that both Primary and Secondary schools are renewing their focus on spelling, punctuation, and grammar. For primary schools, from summer 2013 year 6 children will sit an English grammar, punctuation, and spelling test, which will assess each child’s English skills in four key areas: Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Vocabulary. In secondary schools, […]
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