155. Joining Forces: Combining Sentences with Conjunctions [Sentence Expansion Series]

The Literacy Dive Podcast: Reading and Writing Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers and Parents

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been discussing different strategies that help with sentence expansion. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the third strategy in this series. Just like the previous two strategies, you might have already talked about and taught this particular skill, but I challenge you to intentionally have your students use it in their writing. Using conjunctions to combine sentences is the topic I’m discussing today, along with the different types and ways to use them in student writing.

So we’re on the same page, conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, and clauses together. For students to have success using conjunctions to expand their sentences, they need to have an understanding of what they are and what each conjunction means. Therefore, I highlight three different types of conjunctions and further explain their purpose and examples on how to use them when combining sentences. Just like with the other two strategies, I provide action steps on how to implement in your classroom, along with sample sentences you can directly use with your students.

In wanting students to develop and grow in sentence writing, using conjunctions is the perfect way to achieve that. Conjunctions combine ideas and allow for more complex expression and communication when speaking or in written form. After today’s episode, using conjunctions is another strategy you can use with your students to help expand their sentences. Stay tuned to next week’s episode for another strategy to add to your toolbox!

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode155

Resources Mentioned:

• Vocabulary Writing Prompts Sampler
• Descriptive Writing Charts Bundle
• Writing Reference Helper
• Episode 154, Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series]
• Episode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]

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