Columnist coming to NY Teacher

In his nationally syndicated column, "Looking at Language," Richard Lederer once said a writer has to find out which kind of writer he or she is.

"I somehow got born an English teacher with an ability to communicate ideas about language and literature," said Lederer, the author of more than 30 books about language, history, and humor.

Excerpts from his latest work, A Treasury for Teachers, will run throughout the school year in New York Teacher (see sample below) and on http://www.nysut.org, along with excerpts from some of his books on grammar, including Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay and Comma Sense.

Lederer describes A Treasury for Teachers, which will be published in July 2010, as a "teacher appreciation book."

At times funny and at times serious, chapters range from "Fifteen Famous Excuse Notes" to "A Gallery of Great Teachers." 

Students say the darnedest things

An English teacher announced to the class: "There are two words I don't allow in my class. One is gross and the other is cool."

From the back of the room a voice called out, "So, what are the words?"

* * *

When Maria, the daughter of William Howard Taft III, was a shy schoolgirl, she was asked by her teacher for a brief family history. This is what Maria wrote: "My great-grandfather was president of the United States. My grandfather was senator from Ohio. My father is ambassador to Ireland. I am a Brownie."

Excerpted from Richard Lederer's A Treasury for Teachers (Howard Books), to be published in July 2010. You can e-mail the author at richard.lederer@pobox.com and explore his Web site at http://www.verbivore.com.