Are Your Students Struggling with Sentence Writing?
Do you cringe when reviewing your students’ writing, only to find the same incomplete thoughts and endless run-on sentences every time?
Knowing how to teach sentence structure can be a challenge, but it’s a foundational skill that sets the stage for all future writing success.
Let’s break down how to teach sentence structure in a way that engages elementary students and boosts their confidence.
What Is Sentence Structure?
Sentence structure is the organization of words and phrases to create clear, complete thoughts. In elementary grades, this includes understanding:
- Simple Sentences: A subject and a predicate forming a complete idea (e.g., “The cat sleeps.”).
- Compound Sentences: Two simple sentences joined by a conjunction (e.g., “The cat sleeps, and the dog barks.”).
- Complex Sentences: A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause (e.g., “When the cat sleeps, the dog barks.”).
Why Is Sentence Structure Important?
Understanding sentence structure helps students:
- Express Ideas Clearly: Proper sentence formation prevents confusion in their writing.
- Develop Advanced Writing Skills: Strong sentences are the building blocks for paragraphs and essays.
- Enhance Reading Comprehension: Recognizing sentence patterns improves their ability to decode and understand texts.
How to Teach Sentence Structure
Step 1: Introduce the Basics
Start with an interactive mini-lesson:
- Define Key Terms: Explain subjects, predicates, and their roles in a sentence.
- Use Visual Aids: Display anchor charts showing examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
- Model Examples: Write examples and break them down for students.
- Scaffold Learning: Take a step-by-step approach to building new knowledge.
Step 2: Practice Together
Guide students through practice activities:
- Sentence Sorting: Provide mixed phrases for students to combine into complete sentences.
- Build Three-Part Sentences: Who-What-Where or When
- Fill-in-the-Blanks: Create simple sentences with missing subjects or predicates for students to complete.
Step 3: Apply Sentence Structure Writing
Encourage students to use their new skills:
- Sentence Expansion: Have students take a basic sentence and add details to make it more interesting.
- Develop a Writing Routine: Students slowly develop more advanced sentences with a step-by-step approach.
- Peer Review: Pair students to check each other’s work for complete sentences.
Why Teaching Sentence Structure Works
- Interactive Learning: Engaging activities help students internalize concepts.
- Incremental Mastery: Step-by-step instruction builds confidence and competence.
- Immediate Application: Students practice in real time, reinforcing their skills.
Writing Complete Sentences Bundle for You
The Writing Complete Sentences Units are a teacher’s best friend:
- Lesson Plans: Pre-made plans guide you through introducing, practicing, and applying sentence structure.
- Practice Sheets: Engaging worksheets provide targeted practice.
- Anchor Charts: Visual aids help students retain key concepts.
- Digital Options: Resources are available in printable and digital formats.
- Activity Games: Hands-on learning
My Secret Sauce to Teaching Sentence Structure
Now, this is where things get fun!
Teaching sentence structure to elementary students doesn’t have to be boring. Instead, it can be exciting and motivating. Here’s how I approach teaching sentence structure in my classroom with my students.
1. Hook the Students
Hook your students with an engaging task that leads into your mini-lesson. I do this by inviting my students to join the Federal Bureau of Writing (FBW). Now, visuals are essential in getting students to join in on the role-playing of this activity, so presentation slides with secret service agents, FBW badges, and top secret missions are all in full swing.
The kids love the role-play, and I love their excitement as we continue with the lessons.
2. The Missions (AKA, the Sentence Structure Lessons)
As the class progresses through the sentence writing presentation, the students face various “missions” to accomplish. Just hearing you read, “Your mission is to ____. Do you accept the mission?” thrills the students while keeping them engaged and motivated to learn the next sentence structure skill.
Each “Mission” includes a time of direct instruction and then a follow-up activity to support the sentence writing structure.
Here’s a list of a few activities:
- Subject-Predicate match-Up Game
- Three-Part Sentence Spinner Activity
- Compound Sentences Mini-Puzzle
- Adjective/Adverb Sort
- Figurative Language Mini-Book
Here’s a list of each “Mission” the students will face:
- Complete Sentences (subject/predicates)
- Compound Sentences (who or what + action + when)
- Compound Sentences (two combined sentences)
- Descriptive Sentences (Spicing it up!)
- Scaffolded Sentence Writing Practice Routine Introduction
3. Sentence Writing Routine
Once the class has completed each direct instruction lesson with the accompanying activity, students can apply their new writing skills with a weekly sentence writing routine.
This activity has flexibility in the fact that you can have the writing completed:
- Independently
- with partners
- small groups
I choose to vary the writing sessions to keep things fresh.
You might be asking, “What’s in the sentence writing routine?”
Well, it’s exactly what you taught and the students learned. The final activity is for students to put their learning into practice.
Here’s the Weekly Outline for the Sentence Writing Routine
- Monday- Students write a three-part sentence to match the image provided.
- Tuesday- Students expand their sentences with a compound sentence.
- Wednesday- Students spice up their writing by adding details or figurative language.
- Thursday- Students work with a partner to revise and edit the sentence.
- Friday- Students rewrite their final sentence and proudly share it with the class.
Although the days are labeled, please alter the routine as needed.
Teacher Benefits
- Time-Saving: Spend less time creating materials and more time teaching.
- Engaging Activities: Keep students motivated with interactive exercises.
- Improved Outcomes: See measurable growth in your students’ writing abilities.
Alternative Uses for the Sentence Writing Units
One thing is for sure: students need continued practice with developing the structure of sentences.
Here are a few more ways you can use the Sentence Writing Units to provide more learning/practice opportunities:
- Whole Class: Direct instruction provides a solid foundation to continue writing growth.
- Morning Work: Use practice sheets as a quick daily activity.
- Literacy Centers: Students work with their peers to develop complete sentences
- Homework: Assign worksheets for additional practice at home.
- Intervention Groups: Use targeted activities for students who need extra support.
You can also read more about creating a writing routine for teaching complete sentences here.
Ready to Strengthen Sentence Structures?
Ready to transform your students’ writing?
Explore the Sentence Writing Units today and watch your learners grow into confident writers.
Let’s support student writing together!
Melissa | The Teaching Q
