Randolph-Macon College English Professor Thomas Peyser makes an interesting case for the importance of STEM students having a strong foundation in grammar in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "...we can be confident that the abandonment of instruction in grammar is robbing us not just of future writers but of future scientists, physicians and engineers as well," he writes.
With more and more emphasis on STEM education and less and less on grammar, the gap seems to be widening dangerously. Scientists use words, sentences, and paragraphs to communicate, just as writers do. Furthermore, STEM studies require students to distill complex sentences for comprehension. Without an ample grasp on the fundamentals of grammar, students find themselves at a disadvantage on both the expressive and receptive sides of the communication equation.
One of the key benefits of science fairs is the opportunity they provide for multi-disciplinary learning. A student's skills as writer,... Read More
All signs point to the fact that the abilities to innovate and create are skills that today's students need for future success. Teachers who make their classrooms "idea factories" for their students, rather than focusing solely on textbook-based instruction, have the right idea. By coming up with their own ideas and executing them in the classroom, students get grounded in the kind of thinking and experimentation that is the foundation for innovation.
At the 
