5 Steps to Using Mentor Sentences to Teach Grammar

If you’re new to mentor sentences, you might be wondering how they’ll work in your classroom. How much time do you need to set aside? Do you jump straight into the mentor sentence? I had those same questions when I started using mentor sentences to teach grammar years ago. Now, I’m hoping to pass along a little mentor sentence wisdom, so you can watch them work *magic* in your classroom. (I mean, as magical as a teaching strategy can be.)

Why Mentor Sentences?

I think it’s good to start with the ‘why’, especially if you’re wondering whether it will be worth the effort. Mentor sentences deepen students’ understanding of grammar because they can apply their knowledge in an authentic way. It’s like using math in the real world vs. answering problems on a spreadsheet. Mentor sentences are that “real world” application.

When you use mentor sentences, students get to see the skill in action (with a good example from a real novel). Then, they’ll mimic the pattern of the mentor text to write their own sentence. This resembles what they will do when writing essays, which makes it easier for them to apply their skills.

Using Mentor Sentences to Teach Grammar

We know mentor sentences are great! But how do you go about using mentor sentences to teach grammar? How do you use mentor sentences in your classroom? There are five pretty simple steps to applying mentor sentences. I like to do this at the beginning of class, but you might find a place that better suits you.

#1 Determine Your Focus

Start by deciding which grammar skill you will focus on. For example, you might want to review dialogue or teach direct address. You’ll need to have a specific skill you’re aiming for students to work on in order to find the right mentor sentence. 

#2 Find a Mentor Sentence

This is the most time-consuming part. You’ll need to find a good mentor sentence example that demonstrates the skill in action. The sentence can showcase other grammar skills as well, but the focus will be on the specific skill you are teaching. You can pull mentor sentences from grade-level texts or the current book your class is reading.

In my mentor sentence bundles, I’ve done the hard work for you! I’ve pulled mentor sentences from texts like Freak the Mighty and Holes and mapped out the lesson for you. You’ll know what skill to focus on for each mentor sentence, and how to guide students through it.

#3 Create a Weekly Schedule

The good news is that when using mentor sentences to teach grammar, you only need one sentence a week. Throughout the week, you’ll interact with that sentence in different ways. You can create your own schedule (or steal mine!).

• Monday Musings: Students will write down what they notice about the mentor sentence. 
• Teacher Tuesday: Explicitly teach the grammar focus of that sentence. 
• Wednesday Work-It: Students will change the sentence in some way that focuses on the new grammar skill.
• Thinking Thursday: Students will create their own sentence that uses the grammar skill of the week.
• Final Friday: Students are assessed on their grammar skills. 

All my mentor sentence bundles follow this weekly schedule. I include lesson plans for the week, walking you through what to do each day. You’ll also have all the materials you need to teach these lessons, including the mentor sentence, teaching slides, recording sheets, and more.

#4 Assess and Make a Plan

On Friday, or whichever day you choose, you’ll assess students’ skills. This doesn’t have to be a complicated assessment. It can be a short quiz, a short response, or have them show the skill in action. Whatever works for you!

When you purchase any of my mentor sentence bundles, the assessment is included. It’s a quick (print or digital) quiz for the end of the week. You’ll also get the answer key, so you can check it as a class or grade it on your own time.

Once you’ve assessed, make a plan. If students haven’t quite nailed the skill, make time to practice more. If some students are struggling, give them some extra assistance.

#5 Rinse and Repeat

At this point, you’ve made it through a week of using mentor sentences to teach grammar. Whoo-hoo! Now, you just rinse and repeat. You’ll pull a new sentence for the next week, and start your mentor sentence schedule from the top. I like this repeatable process because it’s easier for you to plan and for your students to follow.

As I mentioned, my mentor sentence bundles follow the same five-day schedule. You don’t have to stress about learning something new to teach each week. Just grab the materials and repeat the process!

Mentor Sentence Bundles

Using mentor sentences to teach grammar is the way to go. But it can be overwhelming to hunt down the sentences yourself. With my Upper Elementary Mentor Sentence Bundle and Middle School Mentor Sentence Bundle, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

Each week, you’ll have a ready-to-use mentor sentence from a grade-level novel. Plus, you’ll have teaching slides, interactive notebook pieces, quick notes, an assessment, and more that make using the mentor sentences a breeze.

Print (or use the digital version) and you’re ready to teach!