Reviews

Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style Into Writer's Workshop by Jeff Anderson

clazo's review

5.0

Professional development on how to teach grammar. It is a really great book! A must have for any learning to teach grammar.

lsmith725's review

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

I didn't go into this knowing that this was basically a how-to guide for teaching grammar in writing workshop, but that worked out nicely; I'm trying to implement more workshop into my classroom this year.  I also didn't know it was for middle school, but that is what the author teachers.  I definitely think this approach could work for elementary and high school, too.  I have always tried to explain the theory's behind grammar rules, but never felt like the kids were that into it.  That is his approach, too, only he does it better.  The best thing about this book is that it includes full lesson plans, including reproducibles, and examples.  It's basically an entire grammar curriculum in one.  Anderson's approach is very realistic, and while I wouldn't use every single element of his method (I'd leave out some of his notebook sections), I'd use a lot of it.

hrmason's review

5.0

I loved this book! Really made me think about how I taught grammar. Many books of this ilk imply that all kids need to do is look at models and that old fashioned direct instruction is bad. But Anderson shows how to mix both the direct instruction kids need to understand the concept with the modeling and experimentation they need to apply it, and to want to apply it, to their writing.

katieb_t's review

5.0

Do you want to know what teaching grammar in context really means? Here's the answer.

beckymmoe's review

4.0

Full of great examples from mentor texts and real-life classroom dialog, this is a great how-to book for ELA teachers who are using (or thinking of using) writer's workshop in their classroom and who want to teach GUMS in a more authentic way. It contains explanations, both of the techniques and of the conventions (and in case you never knew, didn't understand, or have forgotten them, Jeff doesn't make you feel like a fraud--he even admits he's the last person who ever would have thought he'd write a book on this particular topic!), and dozens of lesson plans as well as an appendix of handouts. Next on my list I'm planning on tackling his second book, Everyday Editing. I also just found out he'll be presenting at a workshop near me in the fall and am hoping my principal will let me go!

reneereads10's review

5.0

This is a must-have for any new or current English teachers. Jeff is funny, practical, and honest in his approach to writing instruction, particularly grammar instruction. Make learning grammar authentic and meaningful, thus developing better student writers! The second half of the book are quick lessons and resources that you can take directly into your classroom (teachers are oooing and ahhing right now!). I loved this and can't wait to put it to good use this year.