New SPAG lingo (y6 Sats)

[teeththief]

My usually very confident y6 has just declared he's rubbish at SPAG now they've changed the names for everything he's learnt over the last 5 years.

I can't even help him understand it all as I don't know what any of it means either. Does anybody have a list with a simple explanation of what all these new words for things mean now?

[spanieleyes]

I wouldn't say it was a simple explanation but here is the government's glossary of terms
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/244216/English_Glossary.pdf

[mrz]

I'm not sure what he means when he says they've changed the names of everything he's learnt in the past. Nouns are still nouns, verbs are still verbs, adjective and adverb, determiners, articles, conjunctions etc remain. There are additions that weren't previously in the primary curriculum and a crazy test of child's ability to label parts of speech (more useful IMHO that they can use them correctly but I'm not Secretary of State for Education).
What is he unsure of exactly?

[teeththief]

Conjunctions used to be called connectives didn't they mrz? Things they havent learnt before now include:

Noun phrase
Subjunctive form
Relative pronoun
Modal verb
Present progressive tense
Present perfect form
Co-ordinating conjunction

There are more!

They've done nothing like this before so I've assumed they're new crappy requirements?

[mrz]

A connective can be a conjunction
A conjunction is :
A word used to link clauses within a sentence. For example but and if are conjunctions:

A connective is a word or phrase that links clauses or sentences. Connectives can be conjunctions (eg but, when, because) or connecting adverbs (eg however, then, therefore).

[mrz]

There are two kinds of conjunction:
Co-ordinating conjunctions (and, but, or and so). These join (and are placed between) two clauses of equal weight.
Do you want to go now or shall we wait a bit longer?

[mrz]

www.hamilton-trust.org.uk/system/files/page_files/grammar_for_writing.pdf
You might find the old curriculum grammar publication helps

[spanieleyes]

And speech marks are now inverted commas, fronted adverbials appear to have sprung from somewhere, exclamation marks can only be used with full sentences beginning with what or how and there's probably a few other things that may come to mind!

[thecatfromjapan]

Is that right, wrt exclamation marks?

No "Oh!"?

[mrz]

We've always taught inverted commas (old curriculum) and fronted adverbials for the last five years (Pie Corbett conference did he have a preview?)

The exclamation mark situation has been misreported. You can use exclamations where you like! But a sentence will only be classified as an exclamation if it begins How or What (which is mad! But not quite so mad as reported by the BBC etc)

[mrz]

Just to be clear children in Y2 have to demonstrate that they can use different types of sentences in their independent writing commands, Statements, questions and exclamations,

[user789653241]

You can practice some on here. You can do up to 20 question a day without subscribing.

uk.ixl.com/ela/year-6

[spanieleyes]

But in the test, if a child is asked to write a sentence showing the use of an exclamation mark then "Help, I'm drowning!" won't count but " "What a lovely day!" will.

[user789653241]

www.theschoolrun.com/primary-grammar-glossary-for-parents

[mrz]

Some of the KS2 examples of correct usage of an exclamation mark in the exemplification materials are "Thank you for asking me!" exclaimed Angelina. - you could get frost bite! -I will not talk to her again!
Not a what or How in sight!

[teeththief]

I think I'll just leave him to it and hope for the best. Are the things I've listed new or should they have been doing them before? I'm so confused

[mrz]

No not new

[toootired]

Read Michael Rosen's blog or facebook posts for a very good explanation of precisely why the new SPaG terminology is a) wrong and b) mad.

Speaking as a linguist and English teacher, I have to agree with him.

I'm furious for my dc.

[teeththief]

So it IS new then toootired?

I'd just assumed, following Mrsz's posts that DS either hadn't been listening for years or not taught properly...

[toootired]

Yes, it's new - this is the first year they're using it. Lots of very stressed year 6 teachers because the guidance for preparation and for marking the writing is as clear as mud! Nicky Morgan has already had to publicly backtrack once and tell teachers to ignore their previous guidance.

Obviously, some of the terms or content will have been tested before but lots is new - eg fronted adverbials anyone?

Basically, Michael Gove chatted to some linguist down the pub and wrote what he could remember plus a few things he'd just made up on the back of a fag packet. Hey presto, = new national curriculum!