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October 20, 2025 β€’ 36 mins

In this S5E8 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with literacy consultant Patty McGee as she reveals how 10-minute daily grammar studies can revolutionize student engagement and writing power. Transform grammar instruction from worksheet dread to engaged discovery!

πŸ“š GET THE BOOK: Not Your Granny's Grammar by Patty McGee & Tim Donohue

In this episode, discover:
β€’ Why traditional grammar worksheets fail and what actually works for student success
β€’ The revolutionary 10-minute grammar study approach that builds thriving students
β€’ How conversational partnerships transform student participation and active learning
β€’ Evidence-based instructional strategies that make grammar meaningful
β€’ Why grammar gives students power to affect change in their lives

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Replace worksheets with hands-on grammar manipulatives
- Build conversationally compatible partnerships for student engagement
- Use inquiry-based learning over direct instruction alone
- Create grammar notebooks for authentic learning
- Implement surface, deep, and transfer learning phases

Episode Mentions:
πŸ’«Steve Graham & Karen Harris
πŸ’«Jeff Anderson: Mechanically Inclined
πŸ’«Whitney La Rocca
πŸ’«John Hattie
πŸ’«Dr. Rebecca Winthrop - Winthrop's World of Education

This innovative teaching approach addresses low engagement, transforms classroom behavior, and creates inclusive classrooms where every student thrives. Learn effective teaching strategies that honor the whole child while building essential communication skills.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Making Grammar Fun & Engaging
01:00 Why Traditional Grammar Instruction Fails
02:00 Meet Patty McGee: Transforming Grammar Education
03:00 The Research Behind Grammar Study
05:00 What's Wrong with "Granny's Grammar"?
07:00 Defining Grammar Study vs Traditional Instruction
09:00 The Power of Comparison in Learning
11:00 Teachers as Facilitators, Not Experts
13:00 The Explorer Mode: Student Agency in Learning
14:00 Immersion Phase: Surface Learning
16:00 Deep Learning: Hypothesis & Discovery
18:00 Play & Experimentation in Grammar
19:00 Grammar Notebooks: Capturing Student Thinking
21:00 Why Worksheets Don't Work
23:00 Grammar Learning Partners vs Peer Editing
25:00 Fitting Grammar Study into Your Day
27:00 Tackling Sentence Construction Challenges
29:00 Communicating with Parents About Grammar Study
31:00 Why Grammar Matters for Student Power
33:00 Resources & Video Tutorials Available

Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.Β 

πŸ“§ Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎡 Music: Benjamin Wahl

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

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