🎧 Episode 4: Teaching Grammar in Fun Ways

Episode Summary

You can teach the perfect grammar lesson, have the best anchor chart, and even crush the exit ticket… but what happens when that skill disappears the moment you move on to the next one?

That’s where today’s episode comes in. In Day 4 of the Grammar Confidence Kickstart Challenge, we’re talking about how to teach grammar in fun ways that keep it alive long after the quiz is done.

I’ll share how to connect grammar to the real world, how to weave it naturally into writing, and how to spiral skills without losing your sanity. These practical strategies will help your students actually use grammar instead of memorizing rules and forgetting them by next week.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why grammar should be taught beyond worksheets and into real-world examples
• How to use writing time as a natural way to reinforce grammar skills
• Simple strategies for spiraling grammar without overwhelming yourself or your students
• Fun and low-prep activities (warm-ups, color coding, task cards, and review games) that make grammar stick
• How to set your students up for success by using spiral reviews to preview upcoming skills

Teaching Grammar in Fun Ways: 3 Core Strategies

1. Grammar Lives Everywhere

Grammar isn’t just for worksheets — it’s in books, mentor texts, ads, TikTok captions, and your students’ own writing. Training students to notice grammar “in the wild” makes learning authentic. Try creating a “Grammar in the Wild” anchor chart where you and your students collect examples all year long.

2. Writing as Your Secret Weapon

Students use grammar every time they write — so let’s leverage that. Instead of turning writing into grammar boot camp, sprinkle in small tasks: revise a sentence with adjectives, turn one into a compound, or add a line of dialogue using quotation marks. These quick add-ins help students see grammar as a writer’s tool, not just a subject.

3. Spiraling Without Stress

Revisiting skills doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Use warm-ups, color coding, or quick checks to spiral older concepts while you teach new ones. Add in task cards, centers, or monthly spiral review games like grammar bingo, riddles, or Jeopardy-style quizzes. The key: spiral with intention, not overload.

Pro Tip: Spiral as a Bridge to New Skills

Want your students to feel prepared before you introduce a tricky concept? Use spiral reviews as sneak previews. Before teaching comparative adjectives, spiral in descriptive adjectives. Before verb tense, review action verbs. Before pronoun-antecedent agreement, revisit pronouns. These quick reviews give students the background they need and save you from blank stares later.

Resources Mentioned:

• Download the Free Grammar Confidence Kickstart Workbook to follow along with today's episode and learn how to sequence grammar for your classroom.

Related Episodes & Blog Posts:

• Episode 1: Why Grammar Matters
• Episode 2: How to Sequence Grammar in Upper Elementary
• Episode 3: Building Grammar Routines
• Episode 5: Grammar Teaching Strategies in Upper Elementary

Connect with Rachel:

• Instagram: @uniquelyupper
• Email: uniquelyupper@gmail.com
• Website: www.uniquelyupper.com
• TeachersPayTeachers Store

More About Commas in the Chaos

Commas in the Chaos is the podcast for upper elementary teachers who are juggling lesson plans, classroom chaos, and trying to remember what a preposition is — all before lunch. Whether grammar feels like your jam or your nemesis, this show is here to help you make it a little easier, a little clearer, and a lot more doable.

Hosted by Rachel, a former upper elementary teacher turned curriculum creator, each week brings short, actionable episodes filled with ideas that actually work—from quick grammar routines and sentence strategies to mindset shifts and snack drawer survival tips. It’s all served with just enough sarcasm to get you through the week.

🎧 New episodes drop weekly.