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  • Ideas by Jivey

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.

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    3-5, K-2, Mastering Mentor Sentences

    Stop Teaching Grammar in Isolation!

    May 24, 2016

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    Ideas by Jivey reviews research-based reasons why grammar in isolation doesn't work. Teach grammar in context using mentor sentences and students will become better writers!

    One of the questions I get asked the most about using mentor sentences is, “Don’t you review all the grammar concepts before starting mentor sentences?”

    And my answer is always, “Nope!”

    Now, I am not “one of those” telling you to stop teaching grammar. Understanding grammar is beneficial to proper communication. Instead, grammar should be taught in context- not in isolation.

    Ideas by Jivey reviews research-based reasons why grammar in isolation doesn't work. Teach grammar in context using mentor sentences and students will become better writers!
    • Expecting students to “find” errors in a sentence that they’ve never seen before isn’t going to help students learn grammar or become better writers.
    • Simply telling students what an adverb, adjective, or preposition is and having them “find” those parts of speech in random lists doesn’t help them utilize it in their own writing.
    • Diagramming or labeling a sentence just for the sake of labeling doesn’t help students write more effectively.
    Ideas by Jivey reviews research-based reasons why grammar in isolation doesn't work. Teach grammar in context using mentor sentences and students will become better writers!
    • Showing students well-written sentences and discussing why these sentences are excellent will help them know what to do in their own writing. Using the same sentence the students have studied and discussed to later practice editing skills (alter a few things about the sentence for students to identify) will help them apply those skills in their own writing.
    • Explaining parts of speech when seeing/identifying them in context will help students understand them. Practicing with those parts of speech in writing and speaking will help the skill “stick” and usage is more likely in writing later.
    • Labeling the sentence to discuss how parts of speech are used in context will help students see how the words work together to form an awesome sentence that they can imitate in their own writing.

    **note the difference from the isolated labeling: students are discussing why and how they know the parts of speech they are labeling vs. just diagramming and moving on.**

    I know what you’re thinking… “At the beginning of the year, how can we expect students to find everything we want them to find about the weekly mentor sentence?”
    Simple answer: You don’t!

    Students will begin to “soak up” the language and the skills as you consistently use mentor sentences. I promise! It will take some time and a few weeks of modeling the expectations.

    And as for “finding everything” – not in the beginning! When you start, take baby steps and work up to “everything.” Will they all understand all the skills at the same time? Of course not- just like everything else you teach, students are going to be all over the map when it comes to understanding… but the GREAT thing about using mentor sentences is the spiral of the basic skills every week!

    Their mentor sentence notebook also becomes a resource and reference tool for their writing!

    Do you own any of my mentor sentence products? You can check them out in my store!

    They are perfect for all levels of learners- from ELL and students with disabilities all the way to gifted students! Mariane R. says about using the mentor sentences products in my store: This has to be my absolute favorite. The lessons are easy to follow and use and my students have been getting a lot out of each week’s lessons. I teach in a special education classroom for students with hearing loss. A lot of resources and products they cannot understand or access but they have really gotten in to these lessons and I have seen improvement in both their comprehension and their writing.

    Have you used mentor sentences in your classroom to replace your isolated grammar instruction? Tell us about how it went in the comments! I love to hear from you!

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

     

    If you are looking for guidance to pick the “just-right” bundle for your needs, click below!

    Ideas by Jivey reviews research-based reasons why grammar in isolation doesn't work. Teach grammar in context using mentor sentences and students will become better writers!

     

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    Featured grammar Mentor Sentence
    by Jessica Ivey 

    About Jessica Ivey

    View all posts 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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    • Teaching Grammar that Supports the Science of Reading
    • Teaching Text Structure With Picture Books
    • Planning a Language Arts Schedule (How To Fit It All In!)
    • Mentor Sentences Routine: Break It Down (Assessment)
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    Ideas By Jivey

    22 hours ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓📓If you're using the mentor sentence routine, I suggest beginning your writing time with it! You want grammar and language to be directly connected to their writing.This also helps get students into a writing frame of mind, and often gives them a purpose for writing that day! ✏️Read more about the mentor sentences routine here: www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    📚 Boost your students' reading and writing skills by integrating mentor texts all year long! Check out this post for tips on how to use mentor texts to enhance your lesson plans and engage your students, plus grab a freebie for one of my favorite books! ... See MoreSee Less

    Why I Love Using Mentor Texts All Year (And You Should, Too!)

    www.ideasbyjivey.com

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.
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    Ideas By Jivey

    4 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    🔍Research has proven that vocabulary words must be presented in context for proper comprehension.📖That means... throw out the word lists for kids to look up in a dictionary and memorize the definition!!!📚Picture books are vital – yes, even in the upper grades – to allow students to use the images to help with context and infer the meaning of words. One way to present vocabulary words effectively is to teach through texts you are already using for other lessons!😍You can find over 150 weeks' worth of contextual vocabulary activities just like these in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership: members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-access ... See MoreSee Less

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    When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓 📓If you're usi When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓

📓If you're using the #mentorsentences routine, I suggest beginning your writing time with it! You want grammar and language to be directly connected to their writing.

This also helps get students into a writing frame of mind, and often gives them a purpose for writing that day! ✏️

Read more about the mentor sentences routine at the link in my profile!

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #teacherspayteachers #upperelementary #grammarteacher

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine
    🔍Research has proven that #vocabulary words mus 🔍Research has proven that #vocabulary words must be presented in context for proper comprehension.

📖That means... throw out the word lists for kids to look up in a dictionary and memorize the definition!!!

📚Picture books are vital – yes, even in the upper grades – to allow students to use the images to help with context and infer the meaning of words. One way to present vocabulary words effectively is to teach through texts you are already using for other lessons!

😍You can find over 150 weeks' worth of contextual vocabulary activities just like these in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership- link in profile!!

#ideasbyjivey #upperelementary #mentortexts #teachingvocabulary #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345 

https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-access
    🍀What book are you reading this week for St. Pa 🍀What book are you reading this week for St. Patrick's Day?

Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is a fun one!

Need some last-minute activities?

You can find an entire unit for this #mentortext in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in profile)!

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey
#mentorsentences #upperelementary
#teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers
#iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
    I LOVE reading #fabulousfeedback from you all! 🤩 This one makes me especially happy because I know committing to a new routine like mentor sentences is a mindset shift, but I always hear such positive results once teachers do! ❤

Check out #mentorsentences on my website or my TPT store! www.ideasbyjivey.com

#ideasbyjivey #iteach #iteachtoo #mentortexts #grammarteacher #elementaryela #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers
    🍀🌈💰For today's #mentortextmonday, let's g 🍀🌈💰For today's #mentortextmonday, let's get excited for St. Patrick's Day this week! 

I have the perfect #picturebook: 🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman. It's an original folktale with a little girl power mixed in!

Get the resource I've created for it and you'll have: 
🍀a mentor sentence lesson for the book

🍀an interactive notebook activity to review/teach figurative and literal language

🍀six reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: citing evidence, character analysis, and defining using context clues

🍀one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given

🍀contextual vocabulary activities

🍀science integration - design a leprechaun trap with simple machines

You can find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in profile)! 

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey #mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
    🤔 So what's so special about using #mentorsente 🤔 So what's so special about using #mentorsentences instead of lectures and worksheets?

💡Engagement in the daily class discussions around language is what will give many students a “lightbulb moment” and help those skills transfer to writing. 

Holding these high-level conversations are when the students are going to learn the MOST. 🥳

Read more at the link in my profile! 

#ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345 #mentortexts #upperelementaryteacher #grammarteacher 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine
    🍀Looking for the perfect book to use for St. Pa 🍀Looking for the perfect book to use for St. Patrick's Day?

I have the one! 🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is an original folktale with some girl power mixed in, too!

With the resource I've created, you'll get contextual vocabulary activities PLUS a mentor sentence lesson, reading activities, a writing prompt, and a stem tie-in!

You can find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access
Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in
profile)!

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey
#mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary
#teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers
#iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-
Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprech
aun-Book-Unit-7821146
    🌈What book are you using for St. Patrick's Day? 🌈What book are you using for St. Patrick's Day?

🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is a great one full of figurative language!

Get this mentor sentence, plus reading, writing, vocabulary, and STEM tie-in at the link in my profile! 

You can also find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership! 

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey #mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #iteach345 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
    ✨ Come take the free #mentorsentences training! ✨ Come take the free #mentorsentences training! ✨ 
For K-2 and 3-5! Link in profile! 

members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page
#ideasbyjivey #iteachtoo #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers
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