Here are more complex sentence scaffolds, this time adding ‘why’ to the sentence structure. A child will have to be old enough and able to use conjunctions such as ‘because’ and ‘so’ to use these scaffolds to support their expressive and written language skills. This should be consolidated by third grade.
Download my Why Sentence Scaffolds now. I print them, stick each individual scaffold on coloured paper and laminate for durability. The one page contains the following structures:
Who + Action + Why (The boy is running because he wants to get fit)
Who + Action + Where + Why (The boy is running to the store because he forgot to buy milk)
Who + Action + What + Why (The boy is running with his dog because it needs the exercise)
Who + Action + How + Why (The boy is running quickly because he is in a race)
Who + Action + When + Why (The boy went running in the afternoon because it was too cold in the morning)
HOW DO I USE THEM
I use these ‘why’ sentence scaffolds after I have taught conjunctions and the child has consolidated the use of basic sentence structures. As a school SLP I like to integrate my child’s curriculum materials and themed units so that I am supporting their learning at the same time as introducing new language skills.
WHO SHOULD USE THEM?
Teachers: I gave a set of these to my special education and classroom teachers so that we are all teaching the same thing and using consistent language. If they were targeting a different/additional structure (e.g. adjectives) then I would just make a new scaffold to support what they were learning in the classroom.
SLPs: Use these to support and develop a range of different sentence structures. Use curriculum-based books in your child’s classroom to support their learning at school.
Parents: Discuss with your teacher or SLP if these scaffolds would help your child’s sentence formulation.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS
The Common Core Standards reference the use of conjunctions:
L.3.1. Use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
It is important to realise that you may still have to work on these goals for children in later grades if they are not able to use the structure properly.
Pingback: Worksheets for ‘Why’ Sentence Structures « Adventures in Speech Pathology
I love the sentence scaffolds. I have been using them with my students with great success! I used the worksheets with pictures on the side, where the student writes a sentence next to each picture using the sentence structure scaffold on the top of the page. How do you make those worksheets? My students need lots and lots of practice and these are great for sending as homework.
thanks
Hi,
I am sorry in my delayed response! Sometimes I read these on the go and forget to go back and answer! I use the BoardMaker Program from Mayer Johnson. It can be quite expensive, but it depends how frequently you use it (I create new materials everyday). A lot of professionals working with students with disabilities may be familiar with it, so you can ask at your school building or district office if anyone has a copy (Try SLPs and Sp.Ed staff) I have just posted a new set of scaffolds for ‘when’, so be sure to download those too.
Just checking that you have downloaded my worksheets for some of these structures? I use them as homework and it was a separate post to the scaffolds.
Rebecca
Thank you so much. I just downloaded the “when” scaffolds. I have access to Boardmaker. I am using the two worksheets Who -what doing-where .. Did you post others? I am sharing your materials with the teachers I work with and they love them too.
I think that is all I have posted. I try to update everything under ‘free resources’ on the top right hand tab. Look under ‘language’ and I usually list what I have made so that you don’t have to trawl through posts. Hope you can adapt these with BoardMaker to make them even more useful for you.