Syntax
What is Syntax?
Syntax considers the structure of phrases, clauses, and sentences. It is a systematic way in which words are combined.
How can I help my students?
*Use a variety of texts through read aloud and guided reading so students can hear and read English syntax.
*Use mini lessons to explicitly teach specific grammar skills.
*Put words on index cards or white boards and have the students put the words in an order to create a meaningful sentence (students can hold the words and use their bodies to move in order or can be used in a pocket chart) Tip: If you don't have index cards use sentence strips or post it notes. :)
*Use sentence frames to structure writing.
*Focus writing conferences on one grammar issue at a time so the student can master the skill and not be overwhelmed with too many rules and skills. Don't forget to always add positives into conferences.
*Use student's own writing to teach and practice grammar skills
Why is Syntax important to ELL's?
"It’s important that young ESL students recognize word order and sentence structure. As students get older and progress with English, it becomes more difficult to correct syntax problems. In many cases, older students translate their native language directly into English without considering the word order that changes between languages. A common mistake among Spanish speakers is to place the noun before the adjective, and that mistake becomes more difficult to correct with older students. When the structure is reinforced at a younger age, ESL students will develop a natural inclination to use correct syntax.
Native English speakers learn syntax through repetition before they learn the parts of speech and rules of grammar. Young ESL students generally have no or little understanding of nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. in their native languages, so there isn’t a reason to teach them that the adjective must precede the noun. The students will, however, notice that colors come before objects in a sentence through recognition of repeated sentence structures. As this concept is reinforced through classroom exercises, the students will utilize the structure when creating their own sentences as they continue learning the language.
Many children begin learning English by memorizing words and phrases; it’s your responsibility as the teacher to ensure the students understand the meaning and usage. Be sure to include more vocabulary than what’s available in a child’s textbook, and instruct students how to alter sentences to fit different situations. Just because a student knows a word doesn’t mean he or she knows how to use it in a sentence."
http://www.fluentu.com/english/educator/blog/esl-syntax/
Interesting Facts:
*Sometimes an ELL may make a grammatical or syntactic error in English that is a reflection of a rule from his native language.
*English grammar rules are a challenge for native speakers to memorize and it is even more of a challenge for ELLs.
Syntax/Grammar Websites:
What is Syntax?
Punctuation Practice
Syntax considers the structure of phrases, clauses, and sentences. It is a systematic way in which words are combined.
How can I help my students?
*Use a variety of texts through read aloud and guided reading so students can hear and read English syntax.
*Use mini lessons to explicitly teach specific grammar skills.
*Put words on index cards or white boards and have the students put the words in an order to create a meaningful sentence (students can hold the words and use their bodies to move in order or can be used in a pocket chart) Tip: If you don't have index cards use sentence strips or post it notes. :)
*Use sentence frames to structure writing.
*Focus writing conferences on one grammar issue at a time so the student can master the skill and not be overwhelmed with too many rules and skills. Don't forget to always add positives into conferences.
*Use student's own writing to teach and practice grammar skills
Why is Syntax important to ELL's?
"It’s important that young ESL students recognize word order and sentence structure. As students get older and progress with English, it becomes more difficult to correct syntax problems. In many cases, older students translate their native language directly into English without considering the word order that changes between languages. A common mistake among Spanish speakers is to place the noun before the adjective, and that mistake becomes more difficult to correct with older students. When the structure is reinforced at a younger age, ESL students will develop a natural inclination to use correct syntax.
Native English speakers learn syntax through repetition before they learn the parts of speech and rules of grammar. Young ESL students generally have no or little understanding of nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. in their native languages, so there isn’t a reason to teach them that the adjective must precede the noun. The students will, however, notice that colors come before objects in a sentence through recognition of repeated sentence structures. As this concept is reinforced through classroom exercises, the students will utilize the structure when creating their own sentences as they continue learning the language.
Many children begin learning English by memorizing words and phrases; it’s your responsibility as the teacher to ensure the students understand the meaning and usage. Be sure to include more vocabulary than what’s available in a child’s textbook, and instruct students how to alter sentences to fit different situations. Just because a student knows a word doesn’t mean he or she knows how to use it in a sentence."
http://www.fluentu.com/english/educator/blog/esl-syntax/
Interesting Facts:
*Sometimes an ELL may make a grammatical or syntactic error in English that is a reflection of a rule from his native language.
*English grammar rules are a challenge for native speakers to memorize and it is even more of a challenge for ELLs.
Syntax/Grammar Websites:
What is Syntax?
Punctuation Practice
“Syntax encompasses the set of descriptive rules for how words can combine into phrases, phrases into clauses, and clauses into sentences. (Cruzan & Adams, 2012, 164)