Grammar & Syntax

Share / assign

Why it works

Syntactic awareness, understanding how sentences are structured, supports reading comprehension (especially of complex sentences) and writing. Research is clear that isolated grammar drills (labeling parts of speech, worksheets) have little effect on writing, while teaching grammar and sentence structure in the context of students' own reading and writing, through sentence combining, imitation, and analysis of real sentences, does improve both. Teach syntax to be used, not just named.

The research: Research on grammar instruction (Graham and Perin; sentence combining).

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: teach syntax in context

Teachers leave with a plan to teach a syntactic skill through real reading and writing.

Pick a syntactic skill students need (complex sentences, a structure) for reading or writing.
Plan to teach it in the context of real reading and writing (sentence combining, imitation, analysis).
Apply it to students' own writing.
Avoid isolated labeling drills.

Teach syntax to be used, not namedLabeling parts of speech does little. Teach how sentences work through real reading and writing, so students comprehend complex text and write clearly.

Facilitator notes

Teach grammar in context, using sentence combining and analysis.
Apply it to real writing.
Avoid isolated drills.

Isolated grammar drills do not transferWorksheets and labeling do little for reading or writing. Teach syntax through real sentences and apply it in writing.

Adapt it

Elementary: sentence building and expanding sentences.
Secondary: complex syntax, sentence combining, analysis.
All settings: grammar in context, applied.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Grammar & Syntax: teach it in context

Used, not named: teach how sentences work through sentence combining and analysis, applied to real writing.

The syntactic skill students need:
How I teach it in the context of reading and writing:
How I use sentence combining or analysis:
How I apply it to student writing:
The isolated drills I will drop:

Make it stick

In context, applied:

Teach syntax in context.
Apply it to writing.
Bring a sentence-level lesson that helped to the next PLC.

Common questions

Don't grammar worksheets teach grammar?

They teach labeling, which does little for reading or writing. Teaching grammar in the context of real reading and writing, like sentence combining and analysis, is what transfers.

Why does syntax matter for reading?

Complex texts use complex sentences. Students who understand how sentences are built can untangle long, embedded sentences and comprehend; those who cannot, lose the meaning.

What works for teaching it?

Sentence combining, imitating strong sentences, analyzing real sentences from texts, and applying syntax in students' own writing, not isolated identification drills.