Building Background - Benefits of Using Sentence Frames to Build Background Knowledge

Even as native English speakers we sometimeswith individuals, then shared in small groups.
struggle with just the right word to explain,This new theme of _____ reminds me of a
describe, clarify, or elucidate what we want totime in my life when _____.
convey. We always understand more than we#3 Make sentence frames with the word
can speak. One of best ways to engage English'because' to have students explain connections
language learners (ELL) in actively acquiring newbetween previous learning and the new topic.
material is to connect their background knowledge"I think the next topic will be _____ because our
to the new topic. So, let's give them somelast lesson was _____."
sentence frames to help them use language.This kind of sentence frame encourages
We will be most successful if we remember toprediction according to prior learning. This is a
always start with the concept or theme.good time to show the students how much they
#1 When beginning a new topic, let pairs pretesthave learned and how it all links together.
one another. Write this sentence frame on a#4 After reading a story, a sentence frame can
board, overhead, or PowerPoint, or make yourbe used to let students speak with a partner. You
own blackline master with the sentence framecan expand this speaking activity to include a
repeated four to six times on a page so you cansecond partner, like elbow- partners and
cut them into strips to hand out to the pairs.across-the-aisle partners. Provide a sentence
A: "Do you know anything about (topic)?frame:
B: "I'm not sure, but I do know _____."or "IFor example, "I think _____ is a hero, because
think it could be _____ because I learned_____."
_____."#5 Ask students to make comparisons to
After students copy the sentence frame, or useconcrete objects in linguistic ways. Hand out
the handy strips, erase the word 'topic' in the firstobjects to students and give them some time to
sentence. Write in the topic for today. It might bethink and write again, before speaking.
a theme, or a characteristic, or an emotion.Try this sentence frame with a variety of
- Read the sentence frame aloud to the students.objects:
- Read it again, and this time the students shouldI am like this _____(Snickers bar), because I am
repeat after you._____ (nutty).
- Give them sixty seconds (yes, really time it,I am like this _____(Matchbox Ferrari), because
using the entire sixty seconds) to look at theI am _____ (small and fast).
word and think about everything they knowI am like this _____(red pencil) because I am
about it. No talking. No writing. Just thinking._____ (my face is red because I have to talk
- Next, let students use another 60 seconds (yep,aloud).
time it again) to write words and phrases toThe objects you use can be almost anything!
capture their thoughts about the topic.Now that your imagination is gearing up, make up
- Finally it is time to talk.some sentence frames to use tomorrow.
This is time well-spent. Your lesson will be- Think about how you would want the smartest
stronger and more relevant. Your students will bestudent in the school to speak.
engaged. You can continue to spiral the content,- Then use your target vocabulary and academic
connecting it to what they already know orlanguage to make a sentence frame.
previously learned. The ELs will build confidence as- Encourage your ELLs to speak in complete
they are encouraged to think, write, and talksentences in all conversations in the classroom.
about what they already know.This will increase their academic vocabulary, which
#2 Plan more opportunities for student interaction.maximizes learning, and builds confidence.
Here's another sentence starter than can be used- Kids like to feel smart!