Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/436829
The gramMARCH challenge, created by Heather Shotke, Rosemead Teachers Association, asks students to consider the three P's in March — Pause, Ponder, Prose — before writing or typing full sentences. The challenge applies to all forms of written communication including class assignments, emails, tweets, Facebook posts, Insta- gram captions, and yes, even texting to friends. Shotke, a Muscatel Middle School English teacher in Rosemead, came up with the idea last year to improve her students' writing skills, after she noticed abbreviated language migrat- ing from the screens of smartphones to the pages of her students' schoolwork — even in formal essay assignments. " I wa s a p p a l l e d ," s ays S h o t ke . "Kids are using text language in their academic work, and they think it is acceptable because that is how they are communicating with their friends on social media. It worries me they could not differentiate between a for- mal school assignment and a text to a friend." The graduate of the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, thinks students are not the only ones at fault. Society has become too accepting of this new shorthand, she asserts, noting that many adults have adopted this "lax" method of prose. Last March her school held a gramMARCH assembly. Through word of mouth, social media and her website, www.grammarch.org, the idea caught on in other schools throughout the country, including some in Washington, D.C., Dallas and New York. Stories about gram- MARCH appeared on radio and TV stations not only in California, but on the East Coast. Nate Berkus, an interior designer and television per- sonality featured on "Oprah," publicly embraced the cause. I n s t e a d o f b l a m i n g t e c h n o l o g y for ruining communication, Shoke decided to use social media as a means to reach out to students and improve their communication skills. She cre- ated a Facebook page, an Instagram profile and a Twitter handle to spread the word about gramMARCH. The gramMARCH challenge struck a nerve with many teachers and other grammarians who believe "enough is enough" when it comes to lax language and putrid prose gaining accep- tance. Shotke realized how widespread the problem was when admissions officers at college campuses shared with F S O , I T ' S T I M E for your students to step up and take the GramMARCH challenge, which means that for the entire month of March, students must write everything out in full sentences and use complete words, without such references as OMG, LOL or TTYL. Your students may respond with "LMAO," but don't let that stop you. I Heather Shotke with seventh-graders Julissa Romero, Natalie Catalan, Sophia Busanez Ramos and Lily Moreno. Rosemead teacher takes on texting-style grammar By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin The gramMARCH challenge, created by Heather Shotke, Rosemead Teachers Association, asks students to consider the three P's in March — Pause, Ponder, Prose — before writing or typing full sentences. The challenge RU trd of stdent abbrvns? Lik 2C gr8r F4t? Best practices Learning 44 www.cta.org