Grammar knowledge is the foundation to good writing and speaking. Poor grammar can lead to confusion.
Poor grammar skills are not well received by employers and college professors. It is important to have proper grammar to get your point across properly in a speech, essay, or simple email.
This is why Gideon takes a direct approach to grammar to teach concepts using a separate curriculum from the reading comprehension and vocabulary. While we have always had a grammar program, we have recently updated our Level One to include better explanation pages at the front of the booklets AND videos explaining the concepts covered.
The video form of these explanations can be easily accessed through the QR code on the cover or by using the given link shown there as well. All the Grammar One videos are in a playlist on our youtube channel.
After reading through the concepts, the students then practice these throughout the booklet to gain mastery. Practice makes perfect!
As with all Gideon booklets (except math drill), all pages are graded by an instructor and corrected by the student. If the student made too many mistakes, the booklet will be repeated at some point in the future. The instructor can always offer more help if needed, but be sure to use these resources if the student needs extra help at home.
Many times the only thing the student needs to do is to reread the instructions and go a bit slower.
What are you biggest questions with grammar? Leave a comment below!
While I still think putting pencil to paper is crucial while working out math problems, I heartily agree with some of the ideas espoused by the online Khan Academy’s founder, Salman Khan.
In much of the developed world, Khan writes, schools use a top-down teaching model first developed in Prussia, a Germanic kingdom known for “stiff whiskers, stiff hats, and stiff way of marching in lockstep.” Students must march ahead even if they haven’t understood what came before. Eventually, some stumble and tune out.
Khan’s big idea is that using online technology for lessons, quizzes, and constant assessment will create an affordable way to implement a different teaching ideal known as “mastery learning.” Everyone advances at his or her own pace. Don’t try algebra until you know your arithmetic. Spend less time in lectures and more in hands-on problem solving.
Khan Academy has over 3,000 free videos where you can get some quick help on anything from math to history to medicare. The idea is the student can rewind and rewatch the video as many times as needed to fully understand and go at his own pace instead of only learning from a live teacher trying to keep 30 students at the same place during a lecture. It’s a great resource if you need more instruction or refreshing on a topic.
While at Gideon we believe a live person will generally give a better explanation as he can respond to student questions and working out problems on paper leads to faster mastery (see here and here), a good video goes a long way when your teacher cannot be reached. Watching some Khan Academy videos inspired us to make our own which are designed to be back-up support for students in the Gideon program working through the booklets. The center instructor’s in-person guidance and a student’s pencil to paper practice are still our primary ways of attaining mastery, but the videos are useful if you need to see the steps animated or hear the sounds – such as in phonics.
They are found by visiting our Youtube channel or by scanning the QR code on the front of a booklet using a smart phone. We’ve completed most of the lower math and reading levels already!
