1st grade books from school that use poor grammar?

[Papa Deuce]

My daughter was reading her homework to me yesterday when I noticed that the book she was reading used poor grammar, or used words in the wrong tense.

For example.... In one paragraph, "Roger vomited". What the book actually says is "Roger throwed up".

Here is another example. The book should say " We swept it up".... but the book says "We sweeped it up".....

Personally, I am not sure that the benefits of just reading for reading's sake, outweigh the negatives of the poor grammar.

What do you think?

I am considering at least mentioning my concerns to my daughter's teacher.

 

[briar_rose_59]

I would probably mention it. Not pitch a total fit about it, but definitely mention it. Reading improper grammar would be like reading a math book that said 1+1=11. JMHO

 

[DVCLiz]

I sure would. I'd say, "What the heck are you using this book for?"

One of my friends went to check out a school for her daughter, and enrolled her in a magnet school instead when she saw that the teacher had made labels for several of the items in the room. The one she saw that made her leave was "pensil."

 

[agnes!]

Depends on what the book is. For instance, some of Mark Twain's writings have what would probably be considered poor grammar and sentence construction, especially "Tom Sawyer" & "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I might be more inclined to give his work a pass than a poorly written modern author's.

agnes!

 

[DMickey28]

Is it a book that they are supposed to start learning the correct grammer and "correct" the book?

Is first grade too young for that? I have no idea

 

[JoyG]

Are you reading a Junie B Jones book?

The main character talks like that all the time. If the book you're reading is a textbook, I'd bring it up to the teacher. If it's a novel or fiction...I would take this opportunity to talk to your daughter about the character's "voice." Voice is a technique authors use to help you "hear" how the character talks. You can discuss with your daughter how that character is using poor grammar if you want to.

 

[Northstar]

Junie B. Jones, right?


Sounds as if the story is written first-person in the voice of a kid, who speaks... well, as in the examples you gave.

Not a problem, IMO. Only a problem if it's expository or formal writing.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Depends on what the book is. For instance, some of Mark Twain's writings have what would probably be considered poor grammar and sentence construction, especially "Tom Sawyer" & "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I might be more inclined to give his work a pass than a poorly written modern author's.

agnes!

I agree here, but first graders are not reading Mark Twain... This is more along the lines of a Junie B. Jones book.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Junie B. Jones, right?


Sounds as if the story is written first-person in the voice of a kid, who speaks... well, as in the examples you gave.

Not a problem, IMO. Only a problem if it's expository or formal writing.

It may be. She was reading to me from the middle of the book and I didn't ask to see the title.

 

[Jaimee]

Is it a Junie B Jones book>? DS read those in first grade and at that point he had to read to me every night. When he was finished I'd go over a few of the sentances and ask him what the correct way to say something was. He enjoyed them, so I didn't make a big deal about it. I think if it's just a book here and there it won't make a big impact if she's hearing everyone around her speak correctly kwim?

 

[clh2]

I HATED the Junie B Jones books because of the bad grammer.

 

[DVCLiz]

Oh, I thought it was a reading book along the lines of a text book. If we're talking Junie B. I have a totally different feeling. In that case, I'd just let it go. Part of the humor of that book series is the language!!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Oh, I thought it was a reading book along the lines of a text book. If we're talking Junie B. I have a totally different feeling. In that case, I'd just let it go. Part of the humor of that book series is the language!!

Exactly, and it can be used as a teaching tool.

 

[kathie859]

This is another case where I would check with the teacher to see if she's discussing appropriate grammar in relation to this book. She may well be covering it in class. I don't think it's a huge deal, but if it bothers you, I'd ask.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Exactly, and it can be used as a teaching tool.

That is why I am not really upset... I do hope that she is explaining the difference. I did that last night.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Are those quotes by a characater or is it by a narrator. If it's a chracater saying it then I wouldn't say anything about it.

 

[Buckalew11]

That's got to be Junie B. I love Junie B. Jones! Definitely go back with your DD and see that she knows how Junie should have said it and then just have fun with them. I adore those books--collect tthem myself!

 

[MichelleVW]

That's got to be Junie B. I love Junie B. Jones! Definitely go back with your DD and see that she knows how Junie should have said it and then just have fun with them. I adore those books--collect tthem myself!

I LOVE Junie B...she is so funny!!!

 

[LindaR]

Oh goodness! This was cracking me up! I am a spelling/grammar fanatic (I work for an author) and I remember when dd18 was in 7th grade and brought a permission slip home that her English teacher had written. It was full of spelling errors and a couple of grammar ones too. I circled the "errors" with red pencil, made corrections, signed it and gave it back to dd.

The next day her teacher said, "Alana, now I know where you get it from!!!"

 

[shortbun]

I would ask about it. Those are pretty blatant errors.