If you’re looking for a way to help your elementary students write more complete sentences, sentence starters are a great way to accomplish that!
Getting students to write can be a challenge. Sometimes all they need is a little push to get started. That’s where sentence starters come in.
Sentence starters are a great way to get kids to write without putting too much pressure on them. They can be used for both oral and written assignments.
What are Sentence Starters?
These are words or phrases that can be used to begin a sentence. They can be used to encourage students to be more descriptive in their writing, or to help students get over writer’s block. Either way, sentence starters are a helpful tool for teachers to use in the classroom. Read about language frames here.
How to Use Sentence Starters
One way to use writing prompts is by displaying them around the room as part of a classroom decoration. This way, they’ll be there for students to reference any time they need them.
Another idea is to write them on a whiteboard or chalkboard at the beginning of each day. Students will see them every time they enter the classroom and can use them as needed during writing activities. Click here to see some of ours!
Many teachers laminate them and keep them in a writing center for students to grab when they need them.
Writing prompts can also be used as a whole-class activity; simply project them on a screen and have students choose one to start their own sentences.
No matter how you choose to use them, language frames are a valuable addition to any elementary writing curriculum!
Remember
Sentence starters can be used as a writing prompt.
Give your students a list of starters and have them choose one to start their story. You can even give them a time limit and see what they come up with. This is a great way to get those creative juices flowing.
Sentence starters can be used as an oral speaking prompt.
Have students choose a writing prompt and then finish the sentence. This is a great way to get kids talking without putting too much pressure on them. They can share their sentence with the class or with a partner. Either way, it’s a great way to get kids practicing their oral skills. Read more here
You can use sentence starters to introduce new vocabulary words. Provide your students with a list of sentence starters that contain new vocabulary words. Have them choose one and finish the sentence using the new vocabulary word correctly. This is a great way to help students learn new words in a fun and engaging way. Plus, it helps them see how the new words can be used in everyday conversation
Versatile tools
Sentence starters are versatile tools that can be used in many ways in the classroom. By incorporating them into your daily routine, you’ll find that your students’ writing skills improve rapidly. They are great for getting kids writing and speaking without putting too much pressure on them. And they’re also a great way to introduce new vocabulary words in a fun and engaging way. So next time you’re looking for a little something extra to help your students, consider using these great scaffolds!
Happy Teaching!
Lori
