Teacher Practical Guidance:
Grammar Instruction
Category: Content
Rank Order
78
Effect Size
0.09
Achievement Gain %
3
How-To Strategies
- Grammar instruction must be “contextualized” and meaningful within students reading and writing
- Invite to “notice, label, revise, and imitate” Anderson (2017)
- Minimize technical language and maximize use of examples
- Encourage students to discuss and analyze what is grammatical and ungrammatical
- Make enjoyable and relevant to students world
- Grammar should be used more than talked about
- Teach and learn “Function Words”
References
Anderson, S. (2017) Patterns of Power. Routledge Link
Conti, G. (2023) Twenty evidence-based tips for effective grammar teaching. Blog – The Language Gym. Link
Graham, S., et al (2012). Meta-analysis of writing instruction for students in elementary grades. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(4). Link
MAISA (2023). Literacy Essentials. Link
Grammar Instruction
“The weakest form of writing instruction is traditional grammar instruction (-0.41)…it is unlikely to help improve the quality of students’ writing, and indeed, too many effects were negative.” Graham et al (2012) in Hattie (2023) p. 273