Ep 105 — Grammar, Pared Down: Teaching Less So Writing Sticks with Patty McGee

Grammar doesn’t fail because kids “just don’t get it.” It fails when we teach it like a scavenger hunt of labels and then hope it magically shows up in student writing the next day. We sit down with national literacy consultant and author Patty McGee (Not Your Granny’s Grammar) to make grammar simple, usable, and surprisingly engaging by putting the sentence back at the center of instruction. We talk about why worksheets and identification-heavy lessons so often lead to boredom and zero transfer, and what to do instead: sentence composition, sentence combining, and sentence expansion. Patty shares a minimalist, research-aligned way to “declutter” grammar so students learn the building blocks of writing while teachers reclaim time and clarity. We also dig into scheduling realities inside the ELA block, especially in schools leaning hard into phonics and the science of reading, and why protecting writing time is essential for literacy growth. You’ll hear a practical system for teaching grammar in short, consistent pockets throughout the week, then looping those concepts into drafting, revising, and editing across multiple writing pieces. Patty also offers an easy-to-copy routine, the daily two-minute edit, plus a low-cost manipulative that transforms one mentor sentence into endless grammar practice. If you want grammar instruction that actually sticks and supports better writing, hit play, then subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more teachers can find the show.This episode is sponsored by Patty McGee. Send us Fan MailSupport the show Find our book The Minimalist Teacher  and Your School Leadership Edit: A Minimalist Approach to Rethinking Your School's Ecosystem at the links!Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.