Using Sentence Strips to Create Super Sentences
As teachers, we are always looking for ways to highlight strong writing from our students. One of my favorite methods is with my "Superb Sentences" door. At the top of my classroom door I post a sign labeled "Superb Sentences." Underneath we (the students and myself) have fun collecting all the amazing sentences students constructed throughout the day! When a student writes a spectacular sentence, we place that sentence with the appropriate author's name on the door for all to see and admire. Here's where the enjoyment comes: we discuss, as a class, why this is a superb sentence. At the end of the month, there is a large collection of exciting and new sentences. We graph our sentences by their beginnings, genre, length, etc. This is just another way to have the students talk about their strong writing. At the start of each new month, we laminate the previous month's sentences and store them in our classroom library for the students to reference. It's incredible to see how the students' writing improves because of this activity. Plus, they love it!
