Beginning Grammar
(Pre-Polly)

Grades 1-3

Student Characteristics
1. Obviously excited about learning
2. Enjoys games, stories, songs, projects
3. Short attention span
4. Wants to touch, taste, feel, smell, see
5. Imaginative, creative

Teaching Methods
1. Guide discovering
2. Explore, find things
3. Use lots of tactile items to illustrate point
4. Sing, play games, chant, recite, color, draw, paint, build
5. Use body movements
6. Short, creative projects
7. Show and Tell, drama, hear/read/tell stories
8. Field trips

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GRAMMAR
(Poll-Parrot)

Grades 4-6

Student Characteristics
1. Excited about new, interesting facts
2. Likes to explain, figure out, talk
3. Wants to relate own experiences to topic, or just to tell a story
4. Likes collections, organizing items
5. Likes chants, clever, repetitious word sounds
6. Easily memorizes
7. Can assimilate another language well

Teaching Methods
1. Lots of hands-on work, projects
2. Field trips, drama
3. Make collections, displays, models
4. Integrate subjects through above means
5. Teach and assign research project
6. Recitations, memorizations
7. Drills, games
8. Oral/written presentations

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LOGIC
(Pert)

Grades 7-9

Student Characteristics
1. Still excitable, but needs challenges
2. Judges, critiques, debates, critical
3. Likes to organize items, others
4. Shows off knowledge
5. Wants to know “behind the scenes” facts
6. Curious about Why? for most things
7. Thinks, acts as though more knowledgeable than adults

Teaching Methods
1. Timelines, charts, maps (visual materials)
2. Debates, persuasive reports
3. Drama, reenactments, role-playing
4. Evaluate, critique (with guidelines)
5. Formal logic
6. Research projects
7. Oral/written presentations
8. Guest speakers, trips

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RHETORIC
(Poetic)

Grades 10-12

Student Characteristics
1. Concerned with present events, especially in own life
2. Interested in justice, fairness
3. Moving toward special interests, topics
4. Can take on responsibility, independent work
5. Can do synthesis
6. Desires to express feelings, own ideas
7. Generally idealistic

Teaching Methods
1. Drama, oral presentations
2. Guide research in major areas with goal of synthesis of ideas
3. Many papers, speeches, debates
4. Give responsibilities, e.g. working with younger students, organize activities
5. In-depth field trips, even overnight
6. World view discussion and written papers