District Administrator's Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner River Valley School District Administrator This past Thursday, March 4, was National Grammar Day.  And, as most of us didn’t celebrate with a huge cake or candles, it does bear explanation. The recognition of this day has a simple note--use correct grammar in both verbal and written language. The Global Language Monitor, an organization that collects documents and analyzes the trends of words, has estimated the number of words in the English language is 1,025,109.  There may be some controversy over that figure, as it is impossible to tabulate each word, but it’s safe to say it is over a million (https://languagemonitor.com/).  It is impossible to use them all. Words matter.  Now, let’s analyze.  The two words just used form a sentence as it includes a subject and a predicate.  It includes the idea, “words,” which functions as the subject of the sentence and can be labeled as a noun.  A noun is a part of speech that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.  The other section of the sentence, the predicate, must express something about the subject.  The word “matter”’ does complete the thought.  It would be labeled as a type of verb as it applies to parts of speech.  The second word also increases information and is followed by an appropriate punctuation mark--a period in this case, which not only completes the thought but also creates pause before the reader continues with the information.  An analysis of how the two words are functioning to create communication builds the awareness of grammatical rules. Grammar is not the same as syntax, morphology, spelling, or linguistics.  However, each of these fields of interest in language can play a part in how well communication is delivered and perceived.  There are many ways to teach grammar to children, but boring worksheets is not one of them.  Teaching grammar in context in a student’s writing, a mentor text, or within the analysis of an author’s writing is best.  Examining great language may create greater transfer.   I have a deep appreciation for grammar.  Secretly, I may even appreciate the process of diagramming a sentence.  A professional, personal collection of materials that I have taken with me to each classroom (and now office) includes a Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition text.  The copyright is 1977.  John Warriner states in a preface:  “This book will teach you the difference between an effective sentence and an ineffective one, between strong writing and weak writing.  You will learn to express yourself in clear, correct, and interesting English.  Nothing you learn in school is more important than this.”   The River Valley School District is dedicated to creating curricula that is “rigorous and relevant.”  We use, we teach, and we ask students to express their ideas daily.  We also take pride in developing students who are articulate and prepared for their next steps of life after graduation.  Here are a few rules of grammar to live by: • Words matter.  Choose them carefully.   • Punctuation cannot take a vacation.  Use it carefully and purposefully. • Spelling matters.  However, building, editing, and proofreading awareness matters more. • Be careful of homophones.  There is a big difference between pare, pair, and pear. • Using fancy words does not create understanding. • Use the fewest words possible. • Communication is interpreted differently by many.  Clarify if you have questions. You will not find me throwing about political affiliation, responding to Facebook anger, or claiming to have all the answers.  However, I will continue to advocate for a balance of academic and citizenship skills while we learn from each day.  Part of this advocacy is communicating clearly and carefully.  And, if I have my grammar and composition text nearby, you will know that I am still trying to develop my own communication skills.  I do so because words really do matter and it is worth celebrating.