What Are Some Effective Strategies For Using Mentor Texts To Teach Sentence-level Revision Techniques To 6th-grade Writers, Particularly When Focusing On Varied Sentence Structure And Intentional Word Choice, And Are There Any Specific Online Resources Or Educational Tools That Can Support This Instructional Approach?

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To effectively use mentor texts for teaching sentence-level revision to 6th graders, focusing on varied sentence structure and intentional word choice, consider the following strategies and resources:

Strategies:

  1. Analyzing Mentor Texts:

    • Reading and Discussion: Begin by reading mentor texts aloud. Pause to discuss sentence structures and word choices, highlighting how they enhance the text.
    • Identification Exercise: Have students identify and label different sentence structures (simple, compound, complex) and discuss the effect of varied structures on the reader.

  2. Word Choice Exploration:

    • Author's Purpose: Discuss why specific words were chosen and their impact. This helps students appreciate how word choice affects tone and meaning.

  3. Sentence Imitation:

    • Modeling Techniques: Students imitate sentences from mentor texts, replicating structures and word choices to create their own sentences.

  4. Guided Practice:

    • Revision Workshops: Provide students with sentence starters or examples to guide them in revising their own sentences, encouraging varied structures and precise word choice.

  5. Collaborative Learning:

    • Peer Discussion: Organize small group or pair work where students analyze sentences and share insights, fostering interactive learning.

Resources:

  1. ReadWriteThink:

    • Offers lesson plans and activities focused on sentence structure and word choice.

  2. Khan Academy:

    • Provides grammar lessons that can support understanding of sentence structure.

  3. Quill.org:

    • Features interactive exercises on grammar and sentence structure.

  4. Padlet and Google Docs:

    • Tools for collaborative activities where students can share and discuss their work.

  5. Grammarly:

    • A tool for checking grammar, sentence structure, and word choice, offering suggestions for improvement.

These strategies and resources create a structured approach to teaching sentence-level revision, encouraging students to apply learned techniques effectively.