Reed-Kellogg Diagrams as Screencasts - a revival worth pursuing?

Created by Susan Lister (NewMedia Educational Services) on May 16, 2006

Replies are trickling back from my first “request for interested parties” concerning the idea of Grammar Screencasts.

One of my former colleagues from Dubai Men’s College, Patrick Colabucci , an English teacher who is now teaching at USC American Language Institute in Los Angelos suggested that the marriage of “Reed-Kellog diagrams and some “bells and whistles of technology” would be a good one". In a reply to my initial call of interest, Pat wrote, “These grammatical diagrams are a bit old-fashioned, but damn useful ….. (they) have always been excellent learning tools; for EFL. ESL and native speakers alike.”

Not being an English Teacher nor an ESL-type…I had never heard of the Reed-Kellogg diagrams so here are a few sites I landed on to help me understand what Pat was talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed-Kellogg_sentence_diagram - note the discussion about Reed-Kellogg vs. Sentence Tree Diagrams
http://www.bethyoung.org/ibeth/2004/10/sentence_diagra.html - this is a blog entry with several links to good resources on the topic.
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/langling/e360k/handouts/diagrams/diagram_b... -shows examples of diagrammed sentences
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams/diagrams.htm

After my stint in China and trying to come to grips with the learning mode the Chinese students desire…are used to…feel they learn most from… I’m very curious as to whether the Reed-Kellog diagrams are used in English classes there – the diagrams seem very supportive for the learning style of the Chinese students. (A first impression, I must admit since I was not there long enough to truly ‘understand’ the Chinese classroom learning situation – and I definitely don’t ‘know’ Reed-Kellog diagrams…YET!).

I think Pat is on the right track here - though. I like the idea of union between a well-versed process and technology.

What are the thoughts out there amongst ESL teachers and the usefulness of Reed-Kellog diagrams? Is this a worthy path for our Grammar Screencasts?

Thinking ahead a bit as well....What would be a good “grammar lesson” to use as my first test-case for a grammar screencast. Any suggestions?

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There are scores of sites

Submitted by Anonymous on May 17, 2006 - 9:43am.

There are scores of sites with a variety of Reed-Kellog diagrams. keep me posted on future steps.As for a grammar lesson, I'd suggest keeping it simple for th8e initial model. The simple sentence, maybe with an adjective dropped in, would likely work well.

		Reed-Kellogg Diagrams as Screencasts - a revival worth pursuing? Created by Susan Lister (NewMedia Educational Services) on May 16, 2006 Replies are trickling back from my first “request for interested parties” concerning the idea of Grammar Screencasts. One of my former colleagues from Dubai Men’s College, Patrick Colabucci , an English teacher who is now teaching at USC American Language Institute in Los Angelos suggested that the marriage of “Reed-Kellog diagrams and some “bells and whistles of technology” would be a good one". In a reply to my initial call of interest, Pat wrote, “These grammatical diagrams are a bit old-fashioned, but damn useful ….. (they) have always been excellent learning tools; for EFL. ESL and native speakers alike.” Not being an English Teacher nor an ESL-type…I had never heard of the Reed-Kellogg diagrams so here are a few sites I landed on to help me understand what Pat was talking about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed-Kellogg_sentence_diagram - note the discussion about Reed-Kellogg vs. Sentence Tree Diagrams http://www.bethyoung.org/ibeth/2004/10/sentence_diagra.html - this is a blog entry with several links to good resources on the topic. http://www.utexas.edu/courses/langling/e360k/handouts/diagrams/diagram_b... -shows examples of diagrammed sentences http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams/diagrams.htm After my stint in China and trying to come to grips with the learning mode the Chinese students desire…are used to…feel they learn most from… I’m very curious as to whether the Reed-Kellog diagrams are used in English classes there – the diagrams seem very supportive for the learning style of the Chinese students. (A first impression, I must admit since I was not there long enough to truly ‘understand’ the Chinese classroom learning situation – and I definitely don’t ‘know’ Reed-Kellog diagrams…YET!). I think Pat is on the right track here - though. I like the idea of union between a well-versed process and technology. What are the thoughts out there amongst ESL teachers and the usefulness of Reed-Kellog diagrams? Is this a worthy path for our Grammar Screencasts? Thinking ahead a bit as well....What would be a good “grammar lesson” to use as my first test-case for a grammar screencast. Any suggestions? grammar \| Reed-Kellogg \| screencasts Susan's blog Login or register to post comments 4300 reads There are scores of sites Submitted by Anonymous on May 17, 2006 - 9:43am. There are scores of sites with a variety of Reed-Kellog diagrams. keep me posted on future steps.As for a grammar lesson, I'd suggest keeping it simple for th8e initial model. The simple sentence, maybe with an adjective dropped in, would likely work well. Login or register to post comments
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