72 METHODS IN TEACHING 



third grade, by combining short, simple sentences by means 

 of relative pronouns, participles, and conjunctive abverbs. 

 Sentence Phrases are formed with prepositions, par- 



Structure ticiples, and infinitives. Phrases and 



clauses are used both as adjective and as adverbial modi- 

 fiers. The teacher speaks of the different sentences as sim- 

 ple, complex, and compound; the phrase and the clause are 

 given their proper names, but no attempt is made to have 

 the children discriminate. If they learn to distinguish one 

 from the other accurately much has been gained ; but there 

 is no effort to teach these grammatical points, for all that is 

 desired is that the pupils shall be using naturally and cor- 

 rectly all three forms of the sentence. Whatever more is 

 learned about them by fourth grade pupils is pure gain. Of 

 course, in putting clauses together, it is often necessary to 

 suggest which relative pronoun to use, or which connective, 

 but this is exactly what the drills are for. Lists are fre- 

 quently written upon the board, from which the pupils select 

 words that will unite smoothly the short, simple sentences 

 into one complex whole; but this should not be done until 

 the pupils have been well drilled on the individual words 

 that make up the list. 



In all this applied grammar care must be exercised con- 

 stantly or the teacher will be trying to teach technical gram- 

 mar. Such a mistake would be fatal to the 

 Grammar rea ^ P ur P se - The children may and do 



absorb much grammar, but to hold them, 

 down to its acquirement would seem useless to them, 

 would divert the attention of pupil and teacher from the real 

 object, and would probably create intense distaste for the 

 work. The purpose is to improve the ordinary speech of 



