When coaching these pages, students decide if the sentences were combined correctly. If not, then the plus sign is circled to rethink how to combine. The motion for this is the joining together of the hands. The Fix It Line is used to rewrite the combined sentence correctly. If the sentence is combined correctly on the first try, a thumbs up is circled. The coach then looks at the letter formation. A coach may circle one letter that could be improved. The writer would trace this letter three times on the student card.

Sentence Combining Poster

This poster is used during the Sentence Combining Lessons to help student remember the steps and to guide them in the process. Teachers should demonstrate following along on the poster when modeling in the I DO and WE DO.

In the warm up of SC-16, the teacher slowly explains the steps involved in combining two sentences. The Sentence Combining Poster should be used during the instruction so students know they can refer to it. During the I DO, the teacher demonstrates how to coach a combined sentence. Then, in the WE DO, students coach a pre-written combined sentence. It is through coaching that students become familiar with the steps they will use when they become the writer.

In SC-17, students continue to coach pre-written sentences. Students must determine if the sentences were combined correctly.

In SC-18 and 19, students become the writer and combine sentences that are given. Then, they switch papers with their partners and coach to see if it is combined correctly.

In SC-20, the students combine the sentences they are given and then switch papers with their partners to coach for correct combining, spelling, spacing, capitalization, and punctuation.

SC-16 Warm-Up and I DO