grammar

I feel like throughout my earlier education I was taught grammar a multitude of times. I would then remember exactly what was what in a sentence and re iterate that back when I had tests to see how well I could apply my knowledge. It is weird; when I write I know exactly how to write and what is wrong and right but often I cannot put specific labels on my editing and say, this is why grammatically. I agree with the article that isolated grammar lessons in the classroom are ineffective and should be replaced with hands on activities. The way I learned grammar is not how I learned to write well. I learned to write by writing. At the same time, the fact that I probably could not pass a grammar test with flying colors scares me...if I am going to be an English teacher I should probably know this stuff pretty hardcore! How important is it that our students learn the technical names for modifiers, conjunctions, adverbs, etc. I am not sure, but it is important they learn to write well. I believe I did, without knowing all the technical stuff but now, of course, I am beginning to worry. If the goal of my English teachers throughout my life was to teach me the technicalities of grammar then they failed, but if it was to teach me to enjoy writing and to write grammatically correct then I believe they succeeded. However, I do wish I had a stronger grasp on the explanations behind grammar and I hope to be able to teach these, while at the same time enabling my students to enjoy writing.