Sentence Doctor

Teaching grammar, in a relevant and engaging fashion, is a challenge that every English teacher faces.  This activity gets students up and moving, keeps them interested, and is really a lot of fun!

Common Core Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Anticipatory Set:

Write a sentence on the board, with no capitalization and punctuation.  When the students come in, have them write the sentence correctly on slips of paper.

Direct Instruction:

1.  Have sentences prepared, with each word on a separate sheet of white paper.  Do not include any capitalization or punctuation.  Hand out each word, in the first sentence, to student volunteers.
2. Have the volunteers arrange themselves in front of the room, in the correct order.
3. Call on student volunteers to add capitalization and punctuation to the sentence.
4. Hand out the words for the next sentence, to student volunteers.  Have them arrange themselves in order.
5. Call on a student to be the “sentence doctor” and use a marker to add capitalization and punctuation.
6. Repeat, until students are comfortable with word order, capitalization and punctuation.

 Guided Practice:

1.  Type a sentence, then cut up the words, on different cards.  Hand one of these to every student.  Have them put the words in order, then add capitalization and punctuation.
2. Go over the correct answer.   Repeat with 4 other sentences, or until all students understand the activity.

 Independent Practice:

Hand out a worksheet, involving word order, capitalization, and punctuation, for students to complete.