One highlight from the article was that students were not being taught grammar effectively and how traditional grammar was being taught in classrooms.  Furthermore, the author discusses how teachers do not focus on context and language where effects students’ reading and writing skills. 

I agree with that concept because students are not being taught about punctuation, how to use punctuation correctly in their writing, and how to use nouns, verbs or adjectives to make sense of their writing. I really do not understand why that it is, how we can we expect students to write effectively if they are not being taught to become writers. Even when students are in high school, they make a lot of errors in grammar and teachers expect students to be aware of proper grammar. Research strongly suggests that the most beneficial way of helping students improve their command of grammar in writing is to use students' writing as the basis for discussing grammatical concepts. Researchers agree that it is more effective to teach punctuation, sentence variety, and usage in the context of writing than to approach the topic by teaching isolated skills (Calkins, 1980; DiStefano and Killion, 1984; Harris, 1962). I believe we should lesson on different topics in grammar so students could effectively use to improve their writing skills. In addition, the author provided strategies in how teach grammar in vocabulary, literature, writing, proofreading and usage. The author believe that you have to teach that grammar lesson should build upon the previous instruction where they; they can prewrite about the narrator, how they feel and write on a different point of view. 

One highlight from the Differentiated and Scaffolded Formal Writing Instruction across the Content Areas presentation which thoroughly the different forms of formal writing such as argumentative, informative/explanatory, narrative and research papers in terms; of how to teach it, sample questions, graphic organizers and examples to each type of formal writing. This is a great guide for teachers to teach writing style to their students in which they can explain to them and use graphic organizers in clarifying information for students. Many teachers do not how to teach any of these writing styles or how to begin, so this guide is a great tool for teachers to learn more and how to teach their students. 

Fatimah Ojesanmi

I believe that ghee overall theme of our readings is the idea of teaching students ti look beyond the text. For example,  Close Reading asks for students to make connections between different texts.  Virtual Thinking Response supports students in dissecting a text or a picture. And Reciprocal Readings allows for students to work in groups,  collaborate and analyze a section of text.

The Powerpoint presentation as a whole was filled with information on how to teach students to read and write critically.  It was a pleasure to view.

The article acknowledges that grammar has a place in the classroom. Based on analysis of various studies the teaching of grammatical concepts within the context of language had a more positive impact on improving students abilities to write well, than the traditional isolated grammar instruction in the  classroom. One major highlight of The Shaughnessy study 1977 interpreted by Clover and Shay points out that "the development of grammatical understanding enables a student to build a paradigm through which to view the world and act in it through language that can apply in a variety of context. Teachers should move from rule-based grammar to "the grammar of discovery" which is a classroom that includes grammar within the context of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Grammar should be a means by which students learn about themselves, their text and the world around them.