It's not that grammar and spelling are unimportant. It's a question of timing and emphasis. Focus on communication daily, focus on one grammar/spelling/form issue at a time in mini-lessons until students can manage it reasonably well. Then add another.
Angie, I think you are right. I think that getting students to communicate is the most important part. The spelling and grammar can come later. I think that sometimes we get to caught up in trying to ... more
To me if the student is pushed to spell every word correct, and make sure the end of every sentence has a period or question mark, it discourages the student and he/she will lose interest in writing. ... more