Patty McGee: From Correction to Construction

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Grammar is one of those things we assume we understand… until we try to teach it properly. In this episode of The Language Lab Podcast, I’m joined by literacy educator and author Patty McGee to rethink what grammar actually looks like in the classroom. Moving away from rules, correction, and one-off lessons, Patty shares a much more practical approach — starting with sentences, building understanding over time, and focusing on how grammar helps students make meaning. We get into why traditional grammar teaching often falls flat, how short, repeated “grammar experiences” can lead to real progress, and why teachers don’t need to know everything to teach it well. There’s loads here for language teachers too — especially around sentence building, repetition, and how grammar transfers across languages. If grammar has ever felt like something students should get but don’t… this one’s worth a listen. 🌐 Website: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk 📚 Patty McGee: https://www.pattymcgee.org ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast 🎙 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast