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Not Your Granny’s Grammar

An Innovative Approach to Meaningful and Engaging Grammar Instruction

First Edition

By: Patty McGee, Timothy J. Donohue

Grades 2–8

The book includes 40+ engaging and innovative, research-based lessons that are organized in flexible lesson progressions to provide teachers with easy-to-implement, fun, and learning-rich experiences for students in Grades 2-8.

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Product Details

Grade Level: 2-8
ISBN: 9781071941676
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2025
Page Count: 232
Publication date: June 03, 2025

Available As:

PURCHASE ON SAGE

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Description

Let's make grammar instruction exciting, relevant, and accessible for all learners!

Grammar is the forgotten foundational skill! It plays a critical role in helping students become skilled readers and writers. Yet, traditional approaches to teaching grammar, through drills and memorization, no longer resonate with students.

In today's fast-paced world, students need a more engaging and meaningful way to learn grammar that connects to their real-world experiences. That's where Not Your Granny's Grammar comes in—offering an innovative approach to teaching grammar that is both efficient and effective.

In this book, authors Patty McGee and Tim Donohue introduce Grammar Study, their classroom-tested approach that blends explicit instruction and inquiry to address the challenges and gaps in traditional grammar lessons. The book includes 40+ engaging and innovative, research-based lessons that are organized in flexible lesson progressions to provide teachers with easy-to-implement, fun, and learning-rich experiences for students in Grades 2-8.

Guiding educators step-by-step in nurturing grammar knowledge and usage for both themselves and their students, this book

Offers lessons and strategies that allow students to study grammar in the context of everyday reading and writing
Emphasizes that grammar is not a static set of rules but an ever-evolving system that differs from community to community
Provides time management principles for teachers to creatively integrate meaningful grammar instruction into their literacy or ELA block
Highlights the importance of grammar in writing and clarifies the difference between spoken and written grammar
Includes a robust grammar refresher to help teachers feel more confident in their grammar knowledge as well as an appendix showing alignment with Common Core Standards

Drawing from the science of writing, Not Your Granny's Grammar revolutionizes grammar instruction so teachers can help students build actionable and detailed grammar knowledge and skills that enrich their academic writing for years to come.

Author(s)

Patty McGee

Patty McGee is a Literacy Consultant whose passion and vision is to create learning environments where teachers and students discover their true potential and power. Patty’s favorite moments are when groups of teachers are working with students collaboratively in the classroom. She does her best literacy research by practicing on her two children. Prior to her work as Literacy Consultant, she was Coordinator of Professional Learning in Literacy with the Northern Valley Curriculum Center. Previously, Patty was a fourth grade teacher, a Library Media Specialist, and a Literacy Coach. Patty received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Loyola University in Maryland, an Associate School Library Media Specialist certification through Rutgers University, and her M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership through Montclair State University. Patty has also studied literacy and literacy coaching through Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project and Iona College. She has received the Milken Educator Award (2002), worked as a consultant for Workman Publishing, Scholastic, and Corwin Press, and served on several committees for the New Jersey Department of Education. Furthermore, she has been an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and presenter at the ILA, NCTE, ASCD, and Learning Forward national conferences.

Timothy J. Donohue

Tim Donohue is a passionate educator and lifelong learner who lives for those “aha” moments when a student's eyes light up with understanding. A grammarian at heart and a lover of all things language, Tim is passionate about empowering students to use language and writing as tools for self-discovery and critical thinking. He is a former English teacher and Curriculum Director who currently serves in the role of Assistant Superintendent, coordinating all aspects of district curriculum and instruction. Tim holds master’s degrees in English (Writing Studies) and Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. He has presented at numerous State and local conferences, sharing his expertise and enthusiasm for teaching and learning with other educators.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Grammar Remodel

Chapter 1: Not Your Granny’s Grammar

Chapter 2: Setting Up the Classroom for Grammar Study

Part 2: Lessons to Begin

Chapter 3: A Unit on Sentences

Part 3: Lessons for the Journey: Immersion, Exploration, Transfer

Chapter 4: Immersion Lessons: Mentor Texts and Tips

Chapter 5: Explore Lessons: Hypothesize and Play

Chapter 6: Explicit Lessons: Anchor Charts and How-to’s

Chapter 7: Transfer Lessons: Tools and Schedules

Chapter 8: Assessment: For Learning and Of Learning

Part 4: Your Grammar Refresher: All You Need to Know About Grammar and Standards

Available As:

PURCHASE ON SAGE

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Related Resources

Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.

Other Titles in: Literacy | Literacy, K-12 | Writing (Primary/Elementary)