Grammar instruction is one of those topics that sounds simple… until you’re actually in the classroom trying to make it stick. You’ve probably heard “teach grammar in context” a hundred times, but what does that really look like in practice? And why do students who can ace a grammar worksheet still ignore those same skills in their writing? Frustrating!!

In this episode, I’m digging into the tension between teaching grammar explicitly and teaching it in context, and why the real answer isn’t choosing one or the other. I’ll walk you through what’s actually going wrong, why grammar often doesn’t transfer, and how to turn grammar into something students use naturally as they write… not just something they memorize and forget.

If you’ve ever felt like your students “know it” but aren’t applying it, this will give you a completely different way to think about grammar instruction. The goal is simple, but powerful… grammar should make writing stronger, not more confusing. And when you build it into a clear system, it finally starts to stick.

Need resources? Here’s everything I mentioned:

5 Modes of Writing FREEBIE!

📚 Yearlong Writing Curriculum

👉 5th Grade

👉 6th Grade

👉 7th Grade

👉 8th Grade

🧠 Pause & Prove Cards

✏️ 4th Grade Grammar Pack 

Already have the full-year curriculum and want access to the Google Drive?

📩 Just email a screenshot of your purchase to:
[email protected] 

Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!

➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD

📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)

🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube

📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas

 HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at [email protected]