Episode 151 | Does Grammar Instruction Kill Student Voice? w/ Patty McGee

What happens when students stop worrying about grammar?

For many teachers, the answer is surprising: their writing becomes more powerful, more authentic, and more alive.

So why does that change when we shift the focus back to correctness?

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with Patty McGee, author of Not Your Granny's Grammar, to unpack a real question from a member of the community: Is grammar instruction supporting student voice—or silencing it?

Together, they explore the tension between correctness and expression, the role of dominant language norms in schools, and what it looks like to teach writing in a way that honors both clarity and identity.

  In This Episode

• Why grammar instruction can shut students down
• The difference between correctness and communication
• Who decides what “standard English” is
• How language connects to identity and culture
• What strong writing actually looks like
• Practical shifts to protect student voice

Reflection Question

If a student communicates powerfully—but doesn’t follow traditional grammar rules…

Are they a strong writer?

An Invitation

Teach in Truth.
Lead with Courage.
Belong to a Community That Gets It.

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