Not Your Granny’s Grammar: Why We’ve Been Teaching It Wrong

In this episode of If Teachers Ruled the World, Leah Cleary sits down with literacy expert Patty McGee to rethink how grammar is taught in today’s classrooms. If grammar instruction has ever felt disconnected, ineffective, or like a waste of time, this conversation offers a practical and refreshing shift.Together, they explore how to teach grammar effectively by moving beyond rules and worksheets and instead using grammar as a tool for thinking, writing, and clear communication. This episode is especially valuable for middle and high school teachers looking for grammar instruction strategies that actually support student writing across subjects, not just in English class.Listeners will walk away with a new perspective on grammar instruction, along with ideas they can apply immediately in their classrooms.Patty McGee is the author of Not Your Granny’s Grammar, a book that challenges traditional approaches to grammar and offers practical strategies for real classrooms.Get the book: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or at Corwin.com (use code SAVE20 for 20% off and free shipping).