Session 2
Generative Sentences and Word
Limiting
Adolescent Research and Development Team
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences & Word Limiting
Purpose
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Students construct sentences with selected
words with specific sentence lengths
Students construct sentences with limited
words
Generative Sentences and Word Limiting
activities build word and sentence fluency
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Provides a recommended framework
Targets increased student learning &
achievement
Responds to state and federal legislation
Is based on research that shows how
professional development results in student
achievement gains
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Full implementation of the model has
the capacity to:
◦ increase learning and achievement
for everyone
◦ focus on specific needs of
subgroups of students
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
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Provides parameters for writing at the
sentence level
Provides students a prompt for writing
based upon the content they are
learning
Provides opportunities for teachers and
students to use the generated
sentences for authentic daily oral
language activities
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
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Objective: To compose written messages
based on selected words and sentence length
Activity: Given specific parameters, students
use their understanding of syntax and
sentence structure to construct meaningful
texts.
Level of Support: Moderate at the beginning
working to small group and then independent
activities.
Format: Whole class, small group, or
individual student.
Generative Writing: Generative Sentences
and Word Limiting
Correlation to Iowa Core Curriculum
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Adheres to conventions generally established in
spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage, syntax, and
style
Uses writing as a tool for learning
Engages in the information literacy process:
accesses, evaluates, and communicates information
and ideas
Is able to write on demand
Communicates in a variety of genres .
Iowa Department of Education. (2009, February). Iowa Core
Curriculum. Des Moines, IA: Author.
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
Objective
Students will be able to write
coherent sentences when given
parameters for the number of words
or position in sentences.
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences Introductory Lesson
Using the Gradual Release of
Responsibility Model
(Language Arts Grades 3rd or 4th
with selected vocabulary words)
Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2007). Scaffolded Writing Instruction:
Teaching With a Gradual-Release Framework. New York:
Scholastic.
Adapted from Doug Fisher Better Learning Through Structured Teaching
Activity Prompts for Generative Sentences
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Begin a sentence with _________________.
End a sentence with _________________.
Create a sentence with _________ in the _______
position.
Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2007). Scaffolding Writing Instruction:
Teaching with a Gradual Release Framework. New York:
Scholastic.
Activity Examples
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Teacher selects vocabulary words that students
have been learning
Example: Word- photosynthesis; Generative Sentence: Write
a sentence with the word “photosynthesis” in the 4 th
position.
Sentence: We have been studying photosynthesis in our
biology class.
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Students write a sentence with the word “photosynthesis” in
the first position of a sentence.
Sentence: Photosynthesis is the process by which green
plants use energy to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Generative Writing: Word Limiting
Generative Writing: Word
Limiting Introductory Lesson
Using the Gradual Release of
Responsibility Model
(Social Studies Grades 8-9 with
selected vocabulary words)
Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2007). Scaffolded Writing Instruction:
Teaching With a Gradual-Release Framework. New York:
Scholastic.
Activity Prompts for Word Limiting
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Provide a range (e.g., eight to ten words in length)
Provide a minimum (e.g., at least five words in
length)
Provide a maximum (e.g., no more than 11 words
in length)
Provide a specific length (e.g., exactly eight words
in length
Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2007). Scaffolding Writing
Instruction: Teaching with a Gradual Release Framework.
New York: Scholastic.
Generative Writing: Word Limiting
Activity Protocol
1st: Teacher selects words and/or phrases from
vocabulary to use in sentences of varying
length.
Example: Word- gregarious; Word Limiting – 13
words in sentence
2nd: Students write a 13 word sentence including
“gregarious”
Example: The most popular girls in school also
seem to be the most gregarious.
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
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Small Group Explicit Instruction
◦ Use generative writing in small groups to work on
missing skills in writing for your students.
◦ Tape record instructions of generative writing for
students to complete in small group with a leader in
charge of the recording.
◦ Revise and expand generative writing during
Writer’s Workshop. (ie. Work with revising sentences
in writing pieces to further develop sentence
fluency and/or to show word meaning when
deepening word understandings
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
Pair Share Activity
◦ Think of how you could implement this
into your classroom instruction. (How
often, how much time needed for
instruction, preparation time, would this
work for you?)
◦ Share with 1 -2 people at your table.
◦ Volunteers to share with whole group.
Let’s Try It!
Create a 1st draft of a Generative
Sentence or a Word Limiting Lesson
Generative Writing: Generative
Sentences and Word Limiting
Questions?