Possible Sentences Literacy Tool

Background Information: The Possible Sentences strategy is used prior to giving

students a reading. It requires that they have an understanding of the vocabulary
and concepts of the content they will encounter in their reading. This could be used
at all grade levels and content areas.
Purpose:
It requires students to use their previous knowledge.
It can make them curious about the reading, they will want to see if what
they predicted is correct.
It has them use higher order thinking with predicting the text.
It helps them understand sentence structure and content area writing.
How it works:
Students are given a list of vocabulary words.
Students group related words and define the words.
Students create a sentence with the vocabulary words based on what they
predict the reading will be about. This can be done individually, as a group or
with the whole class.
Students read the text.
Students compare the possible sentences they made with sentences in the
text that they read.
Discuss if their sentences were accurate or need revising and allow students
to revise their sentences so that they are accurate.
Uses for ELL & SPED: This is a great way to practice understanding of
vocabulary. The choice of text can be modified to fit the students needs while still
having the ELL or SPED student use prediction and practice with their previous
knowledge.
Strengths and Weaknesses: I like the use of prior knowledge in higher order
thinking like predicting. I also think it can get them excited about the reading since
they will want to see if their made up sentences match sentences in the text. The
teacher would definitely need to give students a little background on what they will
be reading about. If the teacher failed to do this the students might write sentences
that are completely off topic.