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Literacy 4-6 > Strategies > Manipulatives: Sentence Combining

Manipulatives: Sentence Combining

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Overview

Full sentence manipulatives allow students to practice producing more complex Syntax and writing. As students move parts of sentences or whole sentences, they can focus their Attention on creating compound or complex sentences to help build Foundational Writing Skills. Developing writing skills also supports improved Orthographic Processing.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch as two students work together to combine simple sentences using manipulatives. Using manipulatives can support and serve as a bridge between learners of all different needs.

  • Teachers can have students create manipulatives from their own writing by having them cut a text apart. Providing additional independent and dependent clauses along with sentence connectors, like prepositions or conjunctions, then allows students to physically create compound and complex sentences, which also supports Speed of Processing and Long-term Memory.

    • Design It into Your Product

  • Developers can incorporate flexible, movable sentences and clauses into programs for writing. Giving students a bank of clauses and sentences reduces Working Memory load, and color-coding parts of speech can also help improve Syntax knowledge.
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    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Create Your Own

    Tips for creating and organizing manipulatives

    Examples

    Creating a Paragraph

    Lesson for arranging sentences into a paragraph

    Examples

    Sentence Structure

    Lessons and manipulatives for combining simple sentences

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Foundational Writing Skills
    Genre Knowledge
    Syntax
    Verbal Reasoning
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Sensory Integration
    Short-term Memory
    Speed of Processing
    Working Memory
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Self-regulation
    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Literacy Environment
    Physical Well-being
    Primary Language
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status

    More Multisensory Supports Strategies

    Audiobooks

    Audiobooks allow students to hear fluent reading and to experience books above their reading skills.

    Dictation/Speech-to-text

    Dictation can allow students with transcription difficulties to still participate in the writing process and generate ideas.

    Dictionary & Thesaurus

    Dictionaries and thesauruses can serve as resources for students to expand their Vocabulary knowledge.

    Gestures

    Adding gestures and motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding.

    Manipulatives: Sentence Construction

    Providing physical representations of parts of a sentence activates learners' mental processes.

    Mindfulness Breaks

    Short breaks that include mindfulness quiet the brain to allow for improved thinking and emotional regulation.

    Movement Breaks

    Brain breaks that include movement allow learners to refresh their thinking and focus on learning new information.

    Music & Dance

    Connecting information to music and dance moves enhances Short-term and Long-term Memory by drawing on auditory processes and the cognitive benefits of physical activity.

    Physical Activity & Recess

    Research shows physical activity improves focus and creativity.

    Sensory Stimulation

    Incorporating multiple senses with strategies like chewing gum, using a vibrating pen, and sitting on a ball chair supports focus and Attention.

    Sound-blocking Devices

    Using earplugs or headphones can increase focus and comfort.

    Text-to-speech Software

    Transforming written text into audio supports learning by activating different parts of a learner's brain for comprehension.

    Tossing Activity

    Tossing a ball, beanbag, or other small object activates physical focus in support of mental focus.

    Visual Reading Aids

    Visual supports, like text magnification, colored overlays, and guided reading strips, help students focus and properly track as they read.

    Web-based Dictionary & Thesaurus

    Web-based dictionaries and thesauruses can serve as visual and audio resources for students to expand their Vocabulary knowledge.

    Word Processing

    Research has shown that students write longer pieces with stronger quality when they use word processing software.

    Word Sorts

    Word sorts are multisensory activities that help learners identify patterns and group words based on different categories.

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