 |
)
)
)
)
Grammar in our schools
Sue Wighton asks to be allowed "one last rallying call for the return of sound grammatical knowledge to our schools" ("Don't split your infinitives here", 3 March).
She should not fret. The process is under way.
The language strand of the English component of the Australian Curriculum contains commendable detail on a sensible approach to the grammar of English. It is just to be hoped that the current review of the curriculum does not meddle with this strength before it has been fully understood and properly implemented.
In addition to the necessary but insufficient business of avoiding grammatical errors, the curriculum sensibly focuses on how different choices of grammatical structures construct meaning in different ways.
There is, however, no place for cluttering up kids' (children’s) heads with three traditional so-called "rules" which are, frankly, nonsense.
I refer to the time-honoured prohibitions against splitting infinitives, beginning sentences with conjunctions, or ending them with prepositions.
As Wighton implies, judiciously managed, all three are fine.
Garry Collins, president, English Teachers Association of Queensland
 "Garry Collins, ETAQ President")
Author:Garry Collins, ETAQ President| Tags:Curriculum matters |
Teacher event - external assessmentLatest news Due to the lockdown in south east Queensland, this event will now be fully online. Links for the sessions will be emailed to all registrants on FRIDAY afternoon; you will be able to access the materials from 9am on Saturday morning. If you registered for in-person attendance, your registration will be automatic... | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Register | ||||||||||||||||||
Darling Downs Branch presents
The Darling Downs Branch will present Everything about the external exam on Wednesday 11 August from 3:30 to 5:30pm.
Join us for an afternoon to reconnect with English colleagues, engage in discussion and explore ideas on how to prepare students for the external exam. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Register | ||||||||||||||||||
Grammar PD term 3To assist attendees to develop their understandings of grammar in order to fully comprehend and to effectively teach the Australia Curriculum: English (AC:E), a further session will be held on Saturday 28 August at a venue (to be announced) in the metropolitan area. Download the flyer for further details. If your school is inter... | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Register | |||||||||||||||
Student event - external assessmentFlexible modes of delivery will allow you and your students to engage with the materials at a time that suits you. Once again this event will be fully online to cater for all members and their students. This year the materials will come to you live in the afternoon of Wednesday 8 September. The recorded materials will th... | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Register | ||||||||||||||||||
Pre-service teachers presentTownsville branch will present EMBEDDING INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES IN AUSTRALIAN SHORT STORY UNIT. by a group of pre-service teachers on Saturday 16 October 2021 from 9 am till 11 am. See the flyer for more details. Registrations will open on 1st September. | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Register | |||||||||||||||
This is the first time I have been to an ETAQ conference and it was really sensational to get so much at all of the sessions.
ETAQ conferences always have sessions that make me excited to be a teacher.
I know that ETAQ conferences in the past have never disappointed - valuable, relevant, practical, inspiring so I came again.
Read All
PO Box 3375, STAFFORD,
Queensland, Australia, 4053
(07) 3284 3718
ABN: 17 689 278 512
Connect to a great range of people who are passionate about English and have their finger on the pulse.
Home | Contact Us | Site Map | Print this page | RSS | |
