Is grammar included in the NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts?
Four of the twelve standards call on the students’ understanding of language and sentence structure: • Standard #3 refers to the range of strategies and abilities students should use to comprehend and appreciate texts, and among these is their understanding of sentence structure. • Standard #4 explains that students should adjust their spoken and written language for different audiences and purposes, and these adjustments include changes in the conventions and style of language. • Standard #6 states that students should “apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation)” to create and critique both print and nonprint texts. (Italics added.) • Standard #9 calls for students to “develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.” (Italics added.) Understanding basic grammar can help students see the patterns of different languages and
