Code-Switching Lessons: Grammar Strategies for Linguistically Diverse Writers

"InCode-Switching Lessons, we show you how to lay down the red pen and use successful strategies-contrastive analysis and code-switching-for teaching Standard English in linguistically diverse classrooms."
-Rebecca Wheeler & Rachel Swords

Our kids bring to school powerful linguistic know-how-the cadences, rhythms, and language patterns of their homes and communities.Code-Switching Lessons shows teachers how to build on students' existing knowledge (Community English) to add new knowledge (Academic English).Teacher educatorRebecca Wheeler and urban educator Rachel Swordsshow how to lead students in discovery learning of grammar. Through contrastive analysisstudents gain explicit awareness of the contrasts between informal and formal English. From there, Rebecca and Rachel show how to lead students tocode-switch-to choose the language style to fit the setting-the time, place, audience, and communicative purpose. In this way, teachers learn to build on students' linguistic strengths and add Standard English to students' linguistic toolkits.

Code-Switching Lessonscomponents:
- 9 grammar units that fit naturally into your writing block form the core of thelesson book. Each unit contains two to four lessons that lead students to explore informal and formal grammar patterns in search of generalizations, comparisons, and contrasts. Following a scientific method of grammar inquiry, lessons move students from defining and classifying the grammar patterns to practicing and applying the pattern in their own writing.- An accompanying CD-ROM provides video and print resources to support your teaching. This electronic resource also provides answers to frequently asked questions and an extensive list of vernacular English patterns often found in school writing.

While showing teachers how to identify and successfully respond to the top 9 grammar patterns common among students who speak African American Vernacular English (AAVE), these code-switching strategies extend to students speaking diverse dialects of US English (Appalachian, Southern, etc), International English (Australian English, Hong Kong English, British English), and to students who are English Language Learners (ELL).

Listen to apodcast of Rebecca Wheeler and David Brown as theydiscuss what code-switching is with illustrations from literature and student work.