Sentence of the Week
Kelly Gallagher
Procedure
Day 1:
- Teacher provides three sentences that all contain the
same editing feature.
- Students copy all three sentences.
- Below the sentences, students write “What do I notice?”
- Students then make notes of the similarities between the
three sentences.
- Teacher reviews what students have written and affirms
or corrects.
- Students imitate this type of editing feature by writing
three sentences on their own/in groups.
- Teacher check students at random.
Procedure
Day 2 (Block):
- Teacher provides warm up with additional
sentences that use the same editing feature.
- Students copy sentences.
- Students imitate this type of editing feature by
writing three sentences on their own/in groups.
- Teacher check students at random.
Procedure
Day 3 (Block):
- Teacher assesses students based on the sentence
of the week (spiraling to past SoWs as the year
goes on).
- Assessment can look like a quiz (students can
write their own sentence, write a paragraph
using the sentence, or the teacher can dictate a
sentence and the student must write it using the
skill correctly), ticket out the door, or another
method the teacher chooses.
Subject Verb Sentences
Identifying a subject and a verb
• Jerry ate the pizza.
• Mike and Lisa are happy.
• Miguel was running in the race.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Identifying a subject and a verb
• Michelle ate the ice cream.
• Tom and Fernando are unhappy.
• Marie was doing her homework.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Simple Sentences
Writing a simple sentence
• The clouds hung in the sky.
• Bob sneezed.
• The rain pelted the park.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Writing a simple sentence
• The sun was bright in the sky.
• Panfila coughed.
• The student passed the test.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
• I am late, but I still want to play.
• Sam at the entire sandwich, and I watched him
do it.
• You were rude, so they will not speak to you.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
• I took a taxi, and she drove home.
• He didn’t want help, nor did he ask for it.
• I wanted to go late, but she wanted to go on
time.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
AAAWWUBBIS front-branch
sentencing
(As, After, Although, When, While,
Until, Before, Because, If, Since)
(subordinating conjunctions)
AAAWWUBBIS front-branch sentencing
(As, After, Although, When, While, Until,
Before, Because, If, Since)
(subordinating conjunctions)
• After the game, I went home.
• Even though Paola was short, she was on the volleyball team.
• Although it’s cold, Vanessa did not wear a jacket.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
AAAWWUBBIS front-branch sentencing
(As, After, Although, When, While, Until,
Before, Because, If, Since)
(subordinating conjunctions)
• Although I studied for the test, I did not do well.
• If you plan on trying out for a sport, be sure to practice.
• Since my brother is younger, he often looks up to me for guidance.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
subordinating conjunctions
• Non-AAAWWUBBIS
front-branch sentencing
Non-AAAWWUBBIS
front-branch sentencing
(subordinating conjunctions)
• Tired, we collapsed as soon as we arrived home.
• Laughing hard, tears ran down our faces.
• Without giving it a second thought, we helped
the victims.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Non-AAAWWUBBIS
front-branch sentencing
(subordinating conjunctions)
• In the middle of our discussion, Michelle went into labor.
• Annoyed by the sound of her voice, I refused to listen to
anything she said.
• Due to the fact that summer started a week earlier this year,
we had to reschedule our summer vacation.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Appositive Sentences
Middle-branch sentencing
Middle-branch sentencing
• John, fourteen, is too young to drive.
• My girlfriend, who is afraid of snakes, refused to
go.
• The player, exhausted from the long game,
collapsed.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Middle-branch sentencing
• Jae, eager to have a baby, decided to marry the first
person she dated.
• My boyfriend, who is great at football, received a full
scholarship to UCLA.
• Juan, who attended UC Davis, became a successful
administrator at Whittier High School.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Semicolon Usage ;
Semicolon usage
• The dinner was great; the dessert was average.
• The movie was interesting; however, I fell asleep
before it ended.
• English is my favorite class; Math is a close
second.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Semicolon usage
• When I finish here, I will be glad to help you;
and that is a promise I will keep.
• If she can, she will attempt that feat; and if her
husband is able, he will be there to see her.
• My favorite food is Italian; however, I also like
Mediterranean food.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Quotation with End Attribution
Quotation with end attribution
• “I have arrived,” said Jack.
• “That hurts!” screamed Mary.
• “Are you sure?” asked Joe.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Quotation with end attribution
• “I like fast cars,” said Lance.
• “I got an A!” screamed Annettee.
• “Would you like to go to the movies?” asked
Cole.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Quotation with Front Attribution
Quotation with front attribution
• Jack said, “ I have arrived.”
• Mary screamed, “That hurts!”
• Joe asked, “Are you sure?”
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Quotation with front attribution
• Jae said, “Here’s my phone number.”
• Gina screamed, “There’s a spider!”
• Alexa asked, “Do you like him?”
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Quotation with middle attribution
Quotation with middle attribution
• “I was thinking,” Lisa said, “that this might not
be a good time.”
• “If you don’t leave,” she screamed, “you will be
sorry.”
• “Do you think,” Mary asked, “that the Angels will
win?”
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Quotation with middle attribution
• “I was thinking,” Jim said, “that it might be fun
to hunt deer.”
• “If you don’t stop talking to my boyfriend,” she
screamed, “you will be sorry.”
• “Do you think,” Mary asked, “that the Dodgers
will win?”
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Indirect Quotations
Indirect quotations
• Todd said that he was hungry.
• Lisa said her injury hurt.
• She asked me if I felt well.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Indirect quotations
• Carlye said that she wanted a raise.
• Stephanie said she wanted a pedicure.
• He asked me if I wanted to go to the movies.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Apostrophes to show possession
Apostrophes to show possession
• That is Mike’s car.
• That is Ross’s car.
• Cesar’s and Larry’s girlfriends will both be there.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Apostrophes to show possession
• That is Lance’s car.
• That is James’s phone.
• Sandra’s and Vicky’s boyfriends do not get along
well.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Apostrophe to show contractions
Apostrophes to show contraction
• It’s not funny.
• It’s been fun.
• You’re right about him.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Apostrophes to show contraction
• It’s going to be a great week!
• Don’t make me mad.
• You’re going to get an A if you study for your
quiz.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Capitalization Rules
Capitalization rules
• He drove his Nissan south to get to the South.
• The president will address Congress.
• My Uncle Dave, a senior citizen who studies
biology, is older than my mom.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Capitalization rules
• My friend, Michelle, loves her Pomeranians,
Buddy and Pommer.
• The man drove his Ford truck to Yellowstone
National Park.
• My Aunt Cindy, an ultramarathon runner, is
older than my mom.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
• During the game, a player may forget his plays.
• If a person wants to succeed in life, he or she has
to work hard.
• If people want to succeed in life, they have to
work hard.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
• The Girl Scout sold her year’s supply of Girl
Scout cookies.
• Bob took his dog to the park in order to find its
toy.
• Jae took her baby to the mall to buy clothes.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Active Voice
Active Voice
• The pizza was eaten by John. / John ate the
pizza.
• The game was won by Bob. / Bob won the game.
• The quiz was taken by the students. / The
students took the quiz.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Active Voice
• The essay was graded by the teacher. / The
teacher graded the essay.
• The game was won by the Dodgers. / The
Dodgers won the game.
• The letter was mailed by Alyssa. / Alyssa mailed
the letter.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Using items in a series
Using items in a series
• She went to the store and bought milk, bread,
and cereal.
• He ran to the field, jumped over the fence, and
sprinted to the parking lot.
• She was a teacher who arrived early, who
worked hard, and who ran a tight ship.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Using items in a series
• She went to the Apple store and bought an iPod,
an iPhone, and a laptop.
• He ran to the park, jumped over the fence, and
sprinted to the playground equipment.
• She was a player who arrived early, practiced
hard, and always won the game.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Homophones: Your/You’re, its/it’s,
there/their/they’re
Your/You’re, its/it’s,
there/their/they’re
• You’re on the right path to achieve your goal.
• It’s funny to watch the dog chase its tail.
• They’re not happy that their ball landed there.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Your/You’re, its/it’s,
there/their/they’re
• Their backpacks are over there by the desks.
• It’s sad that the duck lost its mother.
• You’re going to be sorry if you don’t study your
notes for the quiz.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Colons
Colons
• The plumber brought the following: a wrench, a
socket, and a hammer.
• I have three brothers: Mike, John, and James.
• There was only one possible explanation: they
got lost.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Colons
• Michelle has three favorite artists: Matisse,
Caravaggio, and Kahlo.
• I have three sisters: Maxine, Alexa, and Alyssa.
• There is only one possible explanation for failing
the test: you didn’t study.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Number Usage
Number usage
• I am going to buy twenty-five cups.
• I am going to buy 125 cups.
• The school has ninety-six boys and 112 girls.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Number usage
• My niece is nine years old.
• My father is 62.
• We ate a million potato chips.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Hyphens
Hyphens
• He loved chocolate-covered peanuts.
• She is a well-known student.
• Her ex-husband was thirty-seven years old.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Hyphens
• This is a low-budget job.
• It is a well-paying job.
• The five-year-old boy was scared.
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Italics
Italics
• I read a review of To Kill a Mockingbird in the
Los Angeles Times.
• I like Gary Soto’s poem, “Baseball in April,”
which is found in Living Up the Street.
• You should not do that!
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
Italics
• My favorite magazine is Newsweek.
• Maxine’s favorite television show is The
Bachelorette.
• I would never date him!
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
In-text citations
In-text citations
• Johnson, in The Last Chance, said, “This is true”
(12).
• According to the book, thirty-three people died
that day (Anderson 112).
• The New Yorker claimed that the politician was
a democrat (Stein 2).
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.
Day 2
In-text citations
• Ellis, in her book, Best Teacher, said, “I am the best
teacher” (124).
• According to the newspaper article, 100 people died
in the storm (Cooper 11).
• In the short story, “The Possibility of Evil,” the
author tells us of Ms. Strangeworth, “She was fond
of doing things exactly right” (Jackson 6).
• What do you notice?
• Imitate.