Painting with Words
Harry Noden's chapter in Teaching Grammar in Context is the most engaging chapter of a textbook I have ever experienced! Harry (I like to use his Christian name as if we are colleagues and he has shared his greatest advice with me) uses the tools he teaches to paint for us a picture of a classroom full of engaged students, expressive students, even enthused students! If not a dream for all pre-service teachers, the motivation that propels me through the insane rigors of college is the dream of being able to inspire my future students to love language. And Harry's students seem to have grasped the significance. They attend to Harry's grammar lessons because they understand that their "workshop" on appositives will assist them in creating better and better pictures with words. This approach appears to be exciting and enjoyable for the teacher as well as for the students. And as my good friend recently shared with me, "I think you learn more if you are laughing, [having fun], at the same time." Harry has proven this right in his own students! Vive la langue!