Um...

[deltamiss]

Of the fifty-eight students I teach, only FOUR made an A on the first writing assignment. I decided to take the bull by the horns early on this year and attempt to correct some rampant problems.

So today we worked on identifying parts of speech...you know - nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, verbs and interjections - and their relationships. I shouldn't have to do this unit in eighth grade, but I do. We began with prepositions and conjunctions because every single child who comes to my class is under the impression that it is impossible to begin a sentence with 'because' - because some fourth grade teacher was too lazy to explain the difference between dependent and independent clauses. No offense to any fourth grade teachers, but I'm sick of it.

While listing the subordinate conjunctions, the word 'where' came up. A student raised his hand and asked, "Which one?"

Which one???

I had an inkling what he meant because I see it all the time, but I wanted to hear him ask the question. I looked at him quizzically.

"You know. W-H-E-R-E or W-E-R-E?"

W-H-E-R-E did this notion that the two words are interchangeable originate? It's beyond me, but it is a common error - more common than anyone would believe. We W-I-L-L learn the difference T-H-I-S year.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Yes. I see that all the time here on LJ and elsewhere (not among those on my flist but in other commenters). Where-were aren't even pronounced the same so it's a mystery to me as well. Good luck!

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Where-were aren't even pronounced the same...

I know! This has been a problem for the last ten years or so, but I can't imagine what started it.

Thanks.

[curly-purls.livejournal.com]

Because I feel the way that you do, I'm replying with another example of how to begin a sentence in said manner. It's a pet peeve of mine, as well.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for a perfect example! :D

ONE student managed to write a sentence today that began with 'because.' It thrilled me so, I gave her a hand-held pencil sharpener. :D

[curly-purls.livejournal.com]

Sweet!

[jazzyglo.livejournal.com]

That's a common problem?? Wow.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Yes. Sad, huh? :/

[kattraks.livejournal.com]

Yay you! I'm so happy you are the kind of teacher you are. I'm shocked at the way some families only care about the athletic achievements of their children and academics seem to go by the wayside.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

I try; I try.

The lack of language skills is showing up everywhere now. Don't even get me started on geography. :/

[lonewolf2.livejournal.com]

I guess you are also planning on getting the "Eats, shoots, and leaves" issue sorted as well ??

:)

Good luck.

It's good to know that there's a teacher out there who is not going to accept deliberate degradation of this wonderful language we share.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

I LOVE that book! :D

I've decided to set goals that are attainable this year. My students WILL know the difference between where and were, AND they will know NOT to split infinitives. Surely we can reach those. :/

[mammie-9.livejournal.com]

A different problem I noticed in the grandson who just graduated from high school, and have had other parents comment about thier children who area the same age. After Justin came to live with me when he was in the 10th grade, it was about the second year as a junior that I realized that he could not read cursive, he can read printing fine. I discovered this when I left a note for somethings for him to do. This could be the reason so many kids today can not write, they don't do the penmanship like they did many years ago - and yes I still have good penmanship so it isn't just my writing that he can't read.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

*applauds loudly*