Functional Grammar is a way of giving students a language for talking about the different language features they see in different texts. It builds on traditional grammar terms and assists students to identify and use 'functional groupings of words' in their writing, in order to achieve the purpose of their text. Functional Grammar helps students understand the purposes of different genres and how they can change the language they use in their writing to make their texts more effective.
Contact your principal or the District Literacy Team if you are interested in undertaking the District Language and Literacy: Classroom Applications of Functional Grammar Training.
Click the title to view/download the document Blank Functional Grammar Criteria Sheet (135 K) - Type: MS Word file This criteria sheet proforma enables you to structure you writing teaching using the Field, Tenor and Mode variables. It links with the Identifying Curriculum Literacies Guiding Questions.
Blast Off - Printable Book (261 K) - Type: MS Word file This printable book is great to use with your class to introduce the concept of Processes, Participants and Circumstances in sentences. Can be used for highlighting each of these.
Criteria Sheet Planning - Guiding Questions (34 K) - Type: MS Word file This is the Identifying Curriculum Literacies Guiding Questions framework used at the Literacy initiatve training. These questions guide you to plan what language features you need to teach kids to write their genre and which ones you want to assess on your genre criteria sheet. It uses the 3 register variable headings Field, Tenor and Mode.
Field, tenor, mode. (37 K) - Type: MS Word file A description of field, tenor, mode to help you identify salient features for criteria sheets.
Functional Grammar Vodcasts (25 K) - Type: MS Word file Links to several vodcasts showing teachers describing effective lessons using functional grammar.
Grip on Grammar Powerpoint (1069 K) - Type: MS PowerPoint file Presentation describing valuable lessons using functional grammar.
Language Features of Genres (406 K) - Type: MS Word file This document was compiled by a teacher at Karumba SS, 2008. It guides you through a range of genres and the different language features that you need to explicitly teach students in order for them to effectively write that genre.
Nominal Group Poster (69 K) - Type: MS Word file The labels associated with building nominal groups.
Processes, Participants, Circumstances Definitions posters (24 K) - Type: MS Word file Very basic posters that can be printed on each of the colours - green for processes, red for participants, blue for circumstances to remind kids how to find each part of the sentence.
Sample Lesson Plan - Teaching Pattern of Theme and Rheme in Sequential Explanations (23 K) - Type: MS Word file This Sample Lesson Plan was used to introduce the pattern of Theme and Rheme in sequential explanations to a Year 4 class. The Rheme often becomes the Theme of the next sentence in an Explanation Genre. This pattern is fairly unique to sequential explanation genres.
Click the title to go to the web site · Functional Grammar Resources Lyle Walker from Moura SS has compiled this site. It includes six workshop presentations as an excellent introduction to functional grammar. There are also printable materials and worksheets/posters for Participants, Processes, Circumstances, Mood and Modality and Theme and Cohesion.
