Using Sentence Frames
Familiar Content: "The ________ lives in a _______."
This is an example of a simple sentence frame using familiar content. It is surprisingly complex though, and requires the use of multiple vocabulary strategies.
It needs to make sense with the words that are placed in the blanks. It also requires the use of correct grammar. Students will often fill in the blanks with "monkeys" and "trees." This lends itself to a lesson in correct usage of nouns and verbs in vocabulary sentences.
Academic Vocabulary: "Covered _________ traveled on the __________ Trail."
Again, this is a simple sentence but now it requires the use of subject specific vocabulary ("wagons" and "Oregon").
The basic steps for creating vocabulary sentences are as follows:
First plan backwards. Begin with the end goal in mind, using an analysis of your lesson and assessments.
Familiar Content: "The ________ lives in a _______."
This is an example of a simple sentence frame using familiar content. It is surprisingly complex though, and requires the use of multiple vocabulary strategies.
It needs to make sense with the words that are placed in the blanks. It also requires the use of correct grammar. Students will often fill in the blanks with "monkeys" and "trees." This lends itself to a lesson in correct usage of nouns and verbs in vocabulary sentences.
Academic Vocabulary: "Covered _________ traveled on the __________ Trail."
Again, this is a simple sentence but now it requires the use of subject specific vocabulary ("wagons" and "Oregon").
The basic steps for creating vocabulary sentences are as follows:
First plan backwards. Begin with the end goal in mind, using an analysis of your lesson and assessments.
- Determine the critical vocabulary necessary for comprehension of vocabulary words
- Develop the sentence frames you will use for structured practice.
- Sentences can be made to inference or understand cause and effect, but most ELLs need foundational work in understanding the differences and similarities between two things.
- While writing the sentence frames, keep in mind the target language that you will be replacing with blanks.
- You will also need to create a word bank for students to draw from.