#10: English Grammar Practice on the Web

For my last post, I am going to list several resources for teachers. I have come to the conclusion that there is a lot of "talk" of web-based mulitmedia grammar instruction but little cohesion when it comes to programs and software. It seems most teachers create their own mulitmedia tools which I find interesting and motivating as a teacher myself.

Teachers taking grammar instruction into their own hands, embracing the 21st century classroom and shift in roles is all good news for students. In the end I see there is still little known on web based methods for grammar instruction. Most of what I found was research gathered from ELL students or language acquisition versus pure grammar instruction in the English speaking composition classroom.

I think if we could take what non-English speakers are doing to learn English and perhaps apply these methods to our own classrooms, maybe then we could see increased acquisition. I think games and mulitmedia approaches are effective despite the little research I found because we creating authentic and meaningful learning experiences that enhance skill acquisiton.

Some tools I did find are listed below:

-Grammar Fitness (by Merit Solutions): interactive grammar exericsis with program tracking, for lower and upper grades. Not free.

-Grammar Slammer (Windows): helps students and references rules as needed, not just a grammar checker. Free.

-WEBGRAM: Language practice with mulitmedia supported web based grammar revision material; Not free.

-Road to Grammar; More than 300 interactive exercises and section for younger learners; Free

-Grammar Safari: "hunt" and "collect" examples of specific words and structures as they are used in documents accessible to anyone on the internet; Free

- NetGrammar: lesson plans on grammar contents with explanations, exerices and skills practice

-English-Only Games Zone: more of an ELL site but offers language games to download and play online; Free

Although many sites offered are for non-English speakers to learn English, I actually found many very effective for high school students and younger (maybe not college level). The software technologies I found were the most applilcable to college level students.