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  • Ideas by Jivey

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

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    Mastering Mentor Sentences, Mentor Texts

    Teaching Mentor Sentences in the Digital Classroom

    March 26, 2020

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    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    As teaching has shifted to a digital classroom setting, so has the WAY teachers deliver instruction. Mentor sentence lessons are something I have always been a strong believer that doesn’t fit the 1:1 mold:

    • The class discussions drive the lessons.
    • They learn from each other through those discussions.
    • Misconceptions should be corrected right away and discussed so they aren’t “practicing the wrong way.”
    • Their notebook becomes a resource that they can easily flip through without “logging on” to look at examples.
    • And let’s be honest, it seems silly to bust out the computer for one 10 minute activity… do we really want to replace writing ONE SENTENCE A DAY with a computer?

    HOWEVER…

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful. Here we are during a global pandemic, forced to teach in isolation without a group of students sitting at our feet, notebooks in their laps, hands-up and excited to share what they see about this week’s sentence. (Did you just cry a little at that image? I know teachers are MISSING their kids and their routine. My heart goes out to you all!)

    Children CRAVE routine and maintaining “normalcy.” Although there is nothing normal about attending school from home for the majority of kids, many teachers have reached out to share that their students (and they, the teachers) MISS doing mentor sentences, and asked how can they keep up with the routine in a digital classroom model.

    Remember, mentor sentences are used to teach grammar and writing style OUT OF ISOLATION. It’s not just a worksheet to hand out. It shouldn’t be busywork. It requires feedback and student interaction/discussion. So, these are things to keep in mind as teaching moves to the digital classroom, too.

    Read-Aloud of the Mentor Text

    Students should still hear, read, or see the mentor text that contains the mentor sentence. Remember, context is important for understanding the sentence! Record yourself reading the book, or if you don’t have a copy of it at home, find a read-aloud of it on the web!

    Epic! is also offering free subscriptions for educators, and there are other sites you might have access to through your school which offers books in an online library.

    Digital Mentor Sentences

    In the MOST ideal digital classroom setting, here’s what I would suggest:

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful. Hop on a video conferencing platform (like Zoom, Google Hangout, or Microsoft Teams) with your students to hold your lesson just as you would if you were in the classroom. Allow students to type what they would contribute to a discussion in the chat, OR have them raise their hand and call on them one at a time to prevent everyone talking over each other in the meeting room.

    Before the video meeting, give them time to work to notice on their own, just as you would in the classroom. This might mean you are “off” one day in your lessons (so you go live to discuss Day One on Day Two, for example, then they complete Day Two’s work which you go live to discuss on Day Three. That way, everyone has enough time to complete their thinking on their own).

    Day ONE and Day TWO:

    Send them the sentence ahead of time to work in a notebook or in a Google document so they come to the discussion prepared, just as they would if you were meeting in person.

    Day THREE and Day FOUR:

    Hold your video meeting to show your revised sentence and imitated sentence examples, and allow students to share what they notice that you did in your models. Then, students should work on their own to revise and imitate the sentence.

    I made a free template you can use through Google Classroom or Google Drive for students to record their work daily so that you can see their progress- CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    REMEMBER, you don’t want students to only fill in this Google document and never have a way to share out or receive fairly immediate feedback from you, or then it’s just another worksheet and doesn’t follow the best practices of Mentor Sentences. 

    Day FIVE: 

    Send the Editing Assessment digitally for students complete.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    If you own any (or all) mentor sentence units within Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, or Just the Basics, you can find the DIGITAL VERSIONS of the Editing Assessments in the front of each unit. You may need to redownload from your purchases if you haven’t since before the Fall of 2019.

    Alternatives to Live Mentor Sentence Lessons

    Of course, I know not everyone has access to video platforms. Not everyone will have students that can join at the same time either, even if you do have video accessibility.  Here are some other ideas:

    The BARE minimum that potentially could still have an effect on learning, maintain some bit of routine, and keep the idea of best practices for the lesson would be to send the sentence weekly work activity page through Google Classroom or Google Drive. Then as students record their work daily, go in and leave notes as soon as possible, basically having a virtual conversation – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATE.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    A step up from this would be taking what students share in that Google document and compiling their answers into a shared document for all students to see. I would be hesitant to allow them all to type at once since A) students could get frustrated as students type over their responses, and B) some students would not have anything to contribute if they can’t get on right away, as all of their answers would most likely be “written” already.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    You’d also still want to share your example of a revision and imitation sentence on day three and day four so students have a model to work from, just as they do in the classroom.

    Photographs are Effective!

    Can’t video anything but still want to show more than just a typed document? Write out the work just like you would on the board in the classroom and snap a picture! This could even be sent as a text message or email to parents if students don’t have access to a computer.

    Use an app like Class Dojo or Remind to prevent sharing your cell phone number and be able to mass “text” at once.

    Photos are also great if you are using an app with students like SeeSaw!

    Next Level Digital Mentor Sentences Without Live Video

    You don’t have to go live with students to create video mentor sentence lessons that they can watch. You can do something as simple as setting up your phone in selfie mode or using your webcam and talking through each day, or even screen-record your desktop (if you don’t want your students to see you’ve been in your pajamas! Ha!) so they can still hear your voice as you work through a lesson. This would still require you to make a video each day, but it shouldn’t take you much time to do it.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    Use a FREE screen recorder like Screen-Cast-O-Matic

    Before recording your video, just as you would in the classroom, give them time to work to notice on their own. This might mean you are “off” one day in your lessons (so Day One video is recorded on Day Two and shared).

    Day ONE and Day TWO:

    Send them the sentence ahead of time to work in a notebook or in a Google document. “Collect” all of their answers to make your video- write or type what they shared in their Google document, giving credit to those who listed that answer (they love to hear their names on video). Talk through why each answer was correct so they understand.

    Day THREE and Day FOUR:

    Record yourself to show your revised sentence and imitated sentence examples, and remind them of what you expect them to do when they write their own. Allow students time to write their sentences, and in your next days’ videos, share some of their examples. This helps them still feel like a part of their class community.

    I made a free template you can use through Google Classroom or Google Drive for students to record their work daily so that you can see their progress- CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    REMEMBER, you don’t want students to only fill in this Google document and never have a way to share out or receive fairly immediate feedback from you, or then it’s just another worksheet and doesn’t follow the best practices of Mentor Sentences. 

    Day FIVE: 

    Send the Editing Assessment digitally for students complete.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    If you own any (or all) mentor sentence units within Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, or Just the Basics, you can find the DIGITAL VERSIONS of the Editing Assessments in the front of each unit. You may need to redownload from your purchases if you haven’t since before the Fall of 2019.

    Bonus Collaborative Work Idea

    I shared above that I wouldn’t advise using one Google document where everyone types at once, but here is a great alternative!

    Padlet is free to use, and with the “require approval” setting under Content Filters, students will be able to submit answers and then see them all from their classmates once you moderate them! You create a padlet and share the link with them, then they go in and add their comment! Super easy and cool to see everyone’s responses at the end.

    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

    If you want to stick to Google Apps, you could also create a Google Form and have students submit their answers, then share the Google Sheet of answers with them at a later time.

    Mentor Sentence and Mentor Text Digital Resources

    Check out these mentor sentence and mentor text resources which have digital capabilities for your virtual classroom!

    Volume 1 Mentor Sentences

    Volume 1 Better Than Basal

    Volume 1 Vivid Vocabulary

    Volume 2 Mentor Sentences

    Volume 2 Better Than Basal

    Nonfiction Better Than Basal

    Volume 2 Vivid Vocabulary

    Volume 3 Mentor Sentences

    Volume 3 Better Than Basal

    Volume 3 Vivid Vocabulary

     

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    Don't skip mentor sentences during home learning days! Teaching mentor sentences digitally is still possible. Check out these tips to be successful.

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    by Jessica Ivey 

    About 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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    Ideas By Jivey

    19 hours ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    😍Teachers LOVE using the paired texts I've written! 📖With original passages (differentiated for two reading levels) and multiple-choice & constructed response questions that require students to go back into the text for the answers (not basic-level comprehension), you are able to tackle rigorous reading standards while integrating social studies and science content into ELA to maximize much-needed time!Plus, bonus!! Students actually enjoy the passages' topics (no yawns through lessons)! 🚫😴Check out this set for Westward Expansion here! 👉https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Paired-Texts-Print-Digital-Westward-Expansion-Grades-4-6-1811055 ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    Happy World Poetry Day!! 📖🖋️☕️Need a ready-to-teach close-reading poetry resource? Grab it here! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Close-Reading-Poetry-Through-the-Year-Printable-Digital-2216146 ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    3 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want to miss for Women's History Month on this Mentor Text Monday!🐉Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez is the inspiring biography of the pioneering female scientist who loved reptiles.Get the resource I've made to go along with the book to have:★a mentor sentence lesson for the book★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach abstract nouns★eight reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: supporting an inference, key details and main idea, and vivid verbs★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given★contextual vocabulary activitiesGet it in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership: members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-accessGet the unit on TPT: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Joan-Procter-Dragon-Doctor-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Unit-802...Get the unit on Jivey's website: www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/joan-procter-dragon-doctor-mentor-text-digital-print-unit/ ... See MoreSee Less

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    😍Teachers LOVE using the paired texts I've writ 😍Teachers LOVE using the paired texts I've written! 

📖With original passages (differentiated for two reading levels) and multiple-choice & constructed response questions that require students to go back into the text for the answers (not basic-level comprehension), you are able to tackle rigorous reading standards while integrating social studies and science content into ELA to maximize much-needed time!

Plus, bonus!! Students actually enjoy the passages' topics (no yawns through lessons)! 🚫😴

Check out this set for Westward Expansion at the link in my profile!

#ideasbyjivey #fabulousfeedback #pairedtexts #pairedpassages #iteach456 #upperelementary #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Paired-Texts-Print-Digital-Westward-Expansion-Grades-4-6-1811055
    Happy World Poetry Day!! 📖🖋️☕️ Need a Happy World Poetry Day!! 📖🖋️☕️

Need a ready-to-teach close-reading poetry resource? Grab it at the link in my profile! 

#worldpoetryday #worldpoetryday2023 #ideasbyjivey #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #iteach456 #poetryintheclassroom 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Close-Reading-Poetry-Through-the-Year-Printable-Digital-2216146
    🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want t 🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want to miss for #womenshistorymonth  on this #mentortextmonday!

🐉Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez is the inspiring biography of the pioneering female scientist who loved reptiles.

Get the resource I've made to go along with the book to have:
★a mentor sentence lesson for the book

★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach abstract nouns

★eight reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: supporting an inference, key details and main idea, and vivid verbs

★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given

★contextual vocabulary activities

This is just one of over 150 books in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership! Join at the link in my profile! https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-access

#ideasbyjivey #picturebooks #mentortext #mentorsentence #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345
    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
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