In this episode of If I Were the Minister for Education, I speak with US educator, consultant and author Patty McGee about transforming grammar teaching away from dry worksheets and red-pen correction towards inquiry, curiosity and delight, connected to real writing. Patty explains how traditional grammar instruction can create discomfort and inequity, and reframes grammar as a tool for communicating with clarity and connection, noting differences between spoken, book and standard grammar and how grammar evolves. She shares practical classroom experiences: brief, frequent sessions using talk in partnerships, comparing concepts (such as simple and compound sentences), explicit instruction with accessible language (like FANBOYS), hands-on manipulatives for playful practice, and reflection to consolidate learning. We also discuss Ireland’s evolving curriculum, trust in teachers, and Patty’s wish to bring literacy practices to schools, as well as her view that literacy should be defined as meaning-making and sharing voice.

00:00 Welcome and Teaser

01:22 Meet Patty McGee

02:24 Ireland Connection

03:17 Why Grammar Gets Hated

05:54 Beyond Grammar Police

08:00 Teachers and Discrete Grammar

11:46 Three Buckets of Grammar

14:09 Playful Grammar Experiences

19:23 Irish Curriculum Reflections

21:30 Workshops and School Support

24:50 Trust and Respect in Education

26:51 Minister for a Day

29:26 Where to Find Patty

30:44 Final Thanks and Sign Off