Have you been straddling that proverbial fence about whether or not to start mentor sentences in your classroom? I’ll admit, they aren’t right for everyone. Below, I’ve listed three reasons why mentor sentences might not be a good fit for you.
If you prefer your students to sit quietly at their desk and work out of a grammar workbook, then mentor sentences aren’t right for you. Mentor sentences engage students in discussion about grammar, style, and conventions. If you were to teach grammar through mentor sentences, students would be getting a spiral review of many concepts every week, instead of just the one skill on the page in the workbook. There would be a lot of great conversation about things they notice. They would get excited about learning about style and conventions. If you like the groans and sighs you get when you tell students to pull out their grammar workbook, then mentor sentences aren’t right for you.
If you want even more IN-DEPTH step-by-step help with implementing mentor sentences, check out my courses!