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    Mastering Mentor Sentences, Part 1!

    April 9, 2013

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    Happy Tuesday!! Welcome to:

    If you’ve missed any of the previous posts about mentor sentences from either me or Collaboration Cuties, check them out by clicking on the tab at the top- under my header- called Mastering Mentor Sentences (after you read this post, of course!). Technically though, this is my first post in the series that we are doing together!

    We first heard the idea from Jeff Anderson in his awesome professional books. We took his ideas and adapted them to make a routine that worked for elementary school. Here is what we do!

    In today’s post, I am going to focus on Day 1 and Day 2 -in a normal week, those days would be Monday and Tuesday. If it’s a short week, we do both of these parts in one day.

    I give the students their sentence for the week to glue down into their journals. This sentence comes from a book we read the week before, or we are going to read that week. Usually, I have not read the book when I give them the sentence, so when I do read the book, they are hanging on every word, waiting to hear the sentence. I have trained mine to snap when they hear me read the sentence (instead of shouting out). Last week, we used a sentence from one of my favorite books, Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney which I had already read to them the week before as part of our biographies unit.

    Sojourner put one big-black-beautiful foot in front of the other and she STOMPED on the floorboards of ignorance that were underneath.

    Once they have their sentence glued down, we practice reading the sentence together fluently. I’ll call on some volunteer students to read it by themselves to show off, but we read it a few times chorally as well. Then, they “notice” what is so awesome about this sentence. Some things I ask to prompt them and get them going are:
    How is this sentence different from others you’ve seen? How is it the same? What makes it so awesome? Why do you think I chose THIS sentence out of ALL the sentences in the book? What about the way this sentence is written stands out to you?
    I expect them to write at least three things down on their own, but usually they write more. I give them just a few minutes, and then we come to the floor and they share what they saw. I add their “notices” to the chart. I always have something in mind that made the sentence stand out to me, and the students know they are trying to “guess” what it was that made me pick it. This helps with their list of “notices” too because they know it’s usually not something small and simple (although, sometimes it is!). Here is our list from last week’s sentence:
    I have my students tell me why for everything. They can’t just say the sentence is descriptive. They had to tell me they could imagine the scene in their head like a movie. They couldn’t just tell me STOMPED was in all capitals- they had to tell me why they thought the author put that word in all capital letters. You’ll notice the star next to “big-black-beautiful”- there were two things about that, and they got them both!! Alliteration, and the hyphens! We also talked about this being a compound sentence, but I just realized it didn’t make it on the list. I don’t know how that happened! Whoops! I am usually really good about making sure everything that they say is there! My apologies!
    The students re-write the sentence in their notebook, skipping lines in between, and label all the parts of speech that they know (first, independently). Then we come to the floor again, and they tell me what parts of speech they know, but again, they have to talk about WHY. Here is the completed sentence, but check below it for examples of the dialogue we had as we labeled:
    Student 1: Sojourner is a proper noun.
    Ms. Ivey: How do you know that?
    Student 1: Because it’s her name, and she is a person.
    Ms. Ivey: Good! What else?
    Student 2: Underneath is an adverb.
    Ms. Ivey: Really? But it tells position. Why isn’t it a preposition? (yup, I’m mean. Trying to trick them!!)
    Student 2: (thinks for a minute) Because it tells where they were, but it doesn’t connect it to a noun…? (She was not totally sure, but she was right! I was so proud!)
    Ms. Ivey: Very good!!! No fooling you!! What else do you notice?
    Student 3: Oh! “On the floorboards” is a prepositional phrase, because like <student 2> just said, it DOES connect to a noun. On connects to the floorboards, and it tells where!
    Ms. Ivey: Very good!! You are right, and actually, our whole prepositional phrase is “on the floorboards of ignorance”- of is ANOTHER preposition! (It’s okay to tell them some things, like this, because you don’t want them to be confused…)
    Student 3: So “in front of the other” is a prepositional phrase too, right?
    Ms. Ivey: Yup!
    You can see that, by this point, I am not having to really lead them too much. They do most of it on their own. This is a different story at the beginning of the year. Please do not believe that the conversation you just read above happens right away. They begin to understand the “language” and know how to tell me the answer as we get more comfortable with the process. Of course, I would not give them a sentence like this in the beginning of the year either- I want them to feel successful, which they can do on simpler sentences at first. Something you might hear from them early on is, “big is an adjective.” Instead of just labeling it, make sure to ask, “how do you know?” If they give you a blank stare, or just tell you it’s a describing word, make them tell you what word it’s describing!  Same with nouns. Yes, at this point they had BETTER know what a noun is, but make them tell you what MAKES it a noun! (For example, it’s a person.) This is what leads to them being able to tell you why something is a preposition, for example. It also is great when you get into those adjectives that are also nouns, like “kitchen table.” They want to tell you kitchen is a noun. Well it is, by itself. But it’s describing what kind of table!
    Mentor sentences give you the chance to hit several aspects of grammar repeatedly each week. I rarely teach grammar in isolation anymore because I can do it through mentor sentences! I know this was quite a long-winded post, but I’m trying to be detailed in hopes you will see the benefits of mentor sentences and want to use them yourself! I have seen my students’ understanding of grammar improve, and wait until you see how it improves their writing in Thursday’s post! 🙂
    Now click here to head over to Collaboration Cuties to read how they use mentor sentences with their class! They are sharing about a sentence from one of my favorite books to read with my fourth graders: George Washington’s Socks!
    CLICK HERE to read part two of this series!

    If you want even more IN-DEPTH step-by-step help with implementing mentor sentences, check out my courses!

    
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    by Jessica Ivey 

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    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Jessica, also affectionately known as Jivey! I am passionate about making literacy accessible for all students using research-based strategies. Students learn best through content integration and in-context skills, and my goal is to help you deliver your instruction with these best practices!

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    Next week is the kick-off for Global Read Aloud!🌎 Are you joining in on October 2?πŸ€— I was so excited to hear about the picture book creator choice this year because she is definitely a favorite... Jacqueline Woodson!😍 I can't think of a better way to start Week 1 of the next six weeks of #gra23 with this amazing author than the one selected: The Day You Begin!πŸ“This book helps explore the feelings of being different and the courage it takes to share our unique stories. It's an incredible way to open up conversations about diversity, acceptance, and finding common ground with one another.πŸ“šπŸ–οΈ Get the weeklong unit for grades 3-5 to go along with this book and maximize your teaching time! You'll cover figurative language, mood, and modifiers while also integrating SEL to celebrate our differences. www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-You-Begin-Mentor-Text-Unit-for-Grades-3-5-4742262 ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

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    Ideas By Jivey
    Did someone say 50% off resources?! πŸ’ƒToday is DAY 3 of our Sweet Savings event, which means you can get 42 resources for half price!! πŸŽ‰You can get my grades 3-5 Mentor Text Club Bundles 50% off the list price today ONLY! 🎊Yes!! 30 WEEKS of done-for-you ELA plans for half the price! πŸ™€There are THREE bundles - choose one or get them all! For each mentor text unit, you'll have:πŸ’œa week of plans that integrate multiple skills and subjectsπŸ’œdetailed explicit lessons, including teacher samplesπŸ’œa week-at-a-glance planπŸ’œdigitally converted activities in Google Slides and Forms, when applicableπŸ’œmentor sentence lessonπŸ’œreading and writing lessonsπŸ’œintegration of other subjects (science, social studies, or social/emotional skills)πŸ’œprintables for skill practiceπŸ’œat least one other text (poem, article, paired passages) to integrate with your lessons πŸ’œshort assessmentsShop each day’s deals until tomorrow by visiting the link below. πŸ‘‡ ⭐ Download 14 FREE Resources!⭐ Enter to win our SWEET Giveaway!Find all the details here: bit.ly/sweetsavingsweek ... See MoreSee Less

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    Today is DAY 2 of our Sweet Savings event, which means $2 DEALS! ✌️I've got three sets of leveled paired texts with multiple-choice and constructed response questions marked down to just $2 each today. 😍PLUS, you can grab a fiction AND nonfiction set of differentiated reading assessments for key ideas and details standards for only $2 each! πŸ€—If you missed out on yesterday’s deals, they are still discounted! πŸŽ‰β­ Plus, you can still download all 14 FREE resources!⭐ AND enter to win our SWEET Giveaway!Find all the details here: bit.ly/sweetsavingsweek🍬 Know a teacher friend who would LOVE these free resources and deals? Tag a friend or share this post with them! ... See MoreSee Less

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    🍭I am so excited to team up with some of my tea 🍭I am so excited to team up with some of my teacher friends to throw a SWEET giveaway just for YOU! 🍬 YAY!

Enter to win today! The lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, so don’t delay. 

⭐ Enter here: bit.ly/sweetsavingsweek

How to Enter the Giveaway:
1️⃣ Show this post some love and comment with your favorite sweet treat.

2️⃣ T-A-G a teacher friend who would also like to enter for a chance to win.

3️⃣ Head to the link in my profile (@ideasbyjivey) and follow the directions.

Good luck!😍

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    Have you ever wondered what a book looks like afte Have you ever wondered what a book looks like after I finish using it to create a #mentorsentence unit? πŸ™ˆ I just completed the six-week mini-unit for A Rover's Story, which is this year's Global Read Aloud for Middle Grades/Upper Elementary! #GRA23

Will you be participating with your class? It all kicks off on October 2nd. πŸ€“

In this book, Resilience, or Res for short, is a Mars rover who is determined to live up to his name. πŸ€– He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. I never thought I could feel so much for a robot. I might have even shed a few tears at the end...! πŸ˜… #GRARover

Head to the link in my profile (@ideasbyjivey) to grab this brand new mentor sentence unit for A Rover's Story with six lessons that follow right along with the reading schedule for Global Read Aloud πŸ’²ON SALEπŸ’² for 48 hours! πŸ€— 

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    πŸ““Do your students struggle to understand a voca πŸ““Do your students struggle to understand a vocabulary word that has multiple meanings? 

This is why teaching vocabulary in context is SO important! πŸ€“

If your students are just "looking up a list," how many of your students pick the first definition and write it down, then move on to the next word? πŸ“

Or better yet… raise your hand if you have one of *those* students who finds the SHORTEST definition of the word to write! πŸ™‹β€β™€οΈ

πŸ’‘Come check out the post at the link in my profile (@ideasbyjivey) where I share some research-based tips for teaching vocabulary. 

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #scienceofreading #teachingvocabulary #vocabularylearning #iteachtoo #readingteacher 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/vocabulary-in-context-journey/
    For today's #MentorTextMonday, I'm sharing an oldi For today's #MentorTextMonday, I'm sharing an oldie but a goodie: When Lightning Comes in a Jar. This is one of my FAVORITE Patricia Polacco books! 

I'd love for you to check out this blog post where I shared how I tie it all together with ONE #mentortext, and pick up the #freelessons I used to demonstrate these ideas for you! Link in profile @ideasbyjivey

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #iteach345 #picturebooks #upperelementary #upperelementaryteachers #upperelementaryreading #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th
https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/tying-it-all-together-with-mentor-texts/
    Listen up, friends! πŸ“£ If you're not using #ment Listen up, friends! πŸ“£ If you're not using #mentorsentences in your classroom, you're missing out! 

This blog post breaks down how they support the #scienceofreading research, and ways to get started. πŸ“– Read at the link in my profile: @ideasbyjivey

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #iteach345 #grammarteacher #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/teaching-grammar-supports-science-of-reading/
    ⏳Ever wonder just HOW to fit it all in? I laid o ⏳Ever wonder just HOW to fit it all in? I laid out some suggestions based on how much time you have for ELA in the blog post at the link in my profile: @ideasbyjivey ⏰ 

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #mentortexts #teachingreading #iteachreading #iteachwriting #iteachgrammar #teacherlife #teacherproblems 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/language-arts-schedule/
    πŸ“₯ Ready to try out a week of the All-Access Men πŸ“₯ Ready to try out a week of the All-Access Mentor Text Membership for free? 😍 Head to the link in my profile! @ideasbyjivey 

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #teachermembership #mentorsentences #teacherslovebooks #picturebooks #iteachtoo 
https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/free-trial
    πŸ“ Let's talk vocab. If you're still using that πŸ“ Let's talk vocab. If you're still using that old workbook, it's time for a change. This blog post is all about my journey to teaching vocabulary IN CONTEXT!

πŸ€“ Come check out my research-based suggestions for contextual vocabulary at the link in my profile πŸ‘‰ @ideasbyjivey 

#teachingvocabulary #mentortexts #iteachtoo #readingteacher #vocabularylearning #scienceofreading

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/vocabulary-in-context-journey/
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