Syntax is the set of rules (either spoken or unspoken) that determines the arrangement of words to create well-formed, sensible sentences in a language. Syntax is grammatical and dictates how different parts of speech, like nouns, verbs, and adjectives, are combined to convey meaning effectively.

When thinking about fluency in a first language, most individuals will naturally be able to create syntactically correct sentences, so why might syntax be relevant to literacy instruction?

Timothy Shanahan says that “Readers must be able to understand sentences, but they must do so like proficient language users, not linguists.” The emphasis on “sentences” here is interesting. In mentioning this this, Shanahan puts into perspective that grammar instruction needs to be contextualized to students’ level. As teachers, we need to ask ourselves what the goal of teaching grammar is, because, like Shanahan draws attention to, proficient language users and linguists are two different things. Ultimately, most teachers would say that they want their grammar instruction to boost their students’ reading and writing comprehension, but, which path is more effective or appropriate?

Shanahan points out that the notion of general grammar instruction (the identifying errors or parts of speech exercises) being able to enhance reading and writing comprehension is just too simplistic, and that the focus should instead be studying the syntax of sentences. Considering that we interact with sentences while reading, writing and speaking daily, not grammar exercises, there is merit to this idea.
And, although we can more easily differentiate what sounds right and what doesn’t, students will still need support with more complex syntaxical patterns that they don’t use everyday, as well as recording their ideas down on paper in a syntactically correct and academically appropriate way. This is especially because we speak differently than we write in most circumstances. Let’s also take into consideration ELL students, who are not going to be familiar with the natural word order of English, explicitly teaching syntax by way of sentence comprehension will benefit them too.

References

Shanahan, T. (2020). Why we need to teach sentence comprehension. Shanahan on Literacy. https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/why-we-need-to-teach-sentence-comprehension