Seeing is Reading

If I can be half as effective as Anderson is when I teach grammar, I will be a very happy English teacher.

I am understanding grammar for what feels like the first time just by reading his text!  In fact, I am tempted to use his book as the grammar textbook in my own classroom!  (But that would mean giving away all of our teaching secrets!  *gasp*)  Anderson's approach to grammar is incredibly clear and straightforward.  My grammar-confidence remains on a rapid rise.

Noden also continues to enlighten and challenge me.  Throughout my secondary education, teachers pounded adjectives down my throat. Noden, however, advocates stronger nouns and, especially, verbs.  This is an incredible concept because it is one that is so often overlooked.  It is a skill that will transform students into writers.

While I understand his theory about moving students away from adjectives that lead to blank imaging, I wonder if it is too complex for the casual student writer.  Is it too much to expect students to be able to distinguish between adjectives?  I feel as though the only way to do this would be to contrast adjectives that create blank imaging with adjectives that are specific in mentor texts and student writing.  However, I still forsee this causing some confusion.

I do love Noden's theory that students are very visual learners.    I can attest; Anderson's visual scaffolding charts have been extremely beneficial to me, cementing the concepts that he has introduced!

"So it is possible that, separated by one generation, students relate to images more intensely than teachers" (Noden 43).

Noden not only caters to students by suggesting visual learning aids and model texts - not to mention the painting motif - but through actual prompts as well.  The zooming and layering writing exercise is awesome because it encourages students to comb through their works to really tap into the power available in grammar.  Noden also suggests using pictures, images, movies, and props to inspire more colorful brushstrokes in student writing.  This is great because it allows students to interact with the objects that they will be translating in their writing.  The visuals offer inspiration and support for student writing.  Students have something tangible to explore instead of having to procure abstractions from nowhere.  Many of Noden's strategies thus further double as good scaffolding techniques.