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The Write Kitchen


Sentence Fluency

Hello, students, teachers, and parents,

This will be the last grammar review lesson of the summer. Some of you started school today and some of you will start school next week. I hope this summer review has prepared all of you to begin the school year with self-assurance and motivation.

So far you've studied the parts of speech and the basics of sentence construction. Today you'll take a look at sentence fluency: writing sentences that are varied in length and structure and that flow smoothly from one to the next.

First, read and study the following document.


Then, write a paragraph about something special that happened to you this summer. It can be about something happy or sad, spooky or dangerous, or exciting or embarrassing. Make sure your sentences are varied in length and structure and that they flow smoothly from one to the next. 

When you finish your paragraph, revise it for word choice: substitute generic nouns for precise nouns, bland verbs for vivid verbs, and add artful adjectives, smart adverbs, and interesting prepositional phrases. 

Finally, read your paragraph aloud to make sure that it's fluent and that your word choices work well.

And that's all folks!

I wish you all a fun and successful school year.

Write Cook

Sentence Parts and Sentence Construction

Hello, students, teachers, and parents,

This week we will review sentence parts and sentence construction with the help of Mr. Morton from ereadingworksheets.com. 

Go to:

Watch the PPT lessons and complete the worksheets that go with each lesson:

Subjects, Predicates, and Objects Lesson PPT

1- Subjects, Objects, and Predicates with Pirates Worksheet

2- Subjects, Predicates, and Objects Worksheet

3- Subjects, Predicates, and Objects Worksheet 2

4- Subjects and Predicates Worksheet   

5- Compound Subjects and Predicates Worksheet 

Clauses Lesson PPT

Clauses and Phrases Lesson PPT

1- Clauses Worksheet

2- Joining Clauses and the Circus

3- Ninjas! – Independent and Dependent Clauses

4- Clauses and Phrases Worksheets

Four Sentence Types Lesson PPT 

1- Four Sentence Type Worksheets

2- Sentence Types Worksheet 

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences Lesson PPT

1- Creating Compound Sentences

2- Creating Complex Sentences

More practice:

1- Fragments and Run-On Sentences 1

2- Fragments and Run-On Sentences 2

Next week we will review sentence fluency.

Make sure to do something fun this week -- only two weeks left of summer break! (Even less for some!)

Write Cook

Reviewing Sentence Structure

Hello, students, parents, and teachers,

This week you'll be reviewing what you've learned about sentence structure.

First, go to time4writing.com and try out their Free Resources for Sentence Writing, especially their printable worksheets:

Next, find a favorite book (check it out of the library if you don't have it at home) and do a sentence scavenger hunt. Search for:

simple sentences

compound sentences

complex sentences

Finally, use the sentences you found as models for writing your own sentences.

Have fun with this!

Happy writing,

Write Cook

P.S. Time to start shopping for school supplies! :)

Different Types of Sentences

Hello, students, parents, and teachers,

This week's' lesson is on complex sentences, but what you need to do is very simple:

Read and study the following document on understanding and constructing different types of sentences. As you do, write your own examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences. 

Tasty Sentences (PDF — 1 MB)

That's all for this week! 

Happy writing,

Write Cook

Simple Sentences

Hello, students, parents, and teachers,
We've reviewed the eight parts of speech, and we're ready to tackle the sentence.
Start by studying the following document on simple sentences:
Simple Sentences (PDF — 108 KB)
Now let's play some fun games! (You get to pick.)
That's all for this week!
Next week's lesson will be on complex sentences.
Continue to enjoy the summer break!
Write Cook

Sentence Fluency

Hello, writers and teachers,

One more week left of summer vacation! Enjoy it as much as you can! 

This final week, we'll reflect on sentence fluency

I like the following definition from www.education.com:

Sentence Fluency - 

"The varying of the rhythm and flow of language, including the length of sentences and the transitions between sentences, to create writing that is pleasing and natural to the ear."

In other words, fluency -- writing that is rhythmically pleasing to the ear -- results from 1) varying the structure and length of sentences and 2) making wise use of transitions. 

Writing can be more than just pleasing, however. The artistic use of rhetorical devices (read the document "Mr. Hot and Spicy") can make our writing not just flow, but "sing."

Let's examine an example. To appreciate the fluency of this passage you must read it aloud.

From Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury:



Notice how the use of the magic three (three items in a series), a variety of sentence types, and the poetic repetition of sentence beginnings and structures, give the writing rhythm and musicality. 

But how do we actually do this? How do we make our sentences flow and have rhythm? How do we make our writing "sing"?

Three things we can do:

1- Analyze and imitate the work of master writers.

2- Practice, practice, practice.

3- Read the work aloud. Get feedback from a friend. Revise.

This is your fun assignment for this last week of vacation: 

1- Read the following document on sentence fluency:


2- Read aloud from a favorite book. Copy one or two paragraphs that you find particularly pleasing to the ear. List what the author did to make his or her writing "sing." 

I will post again August 27 (first day of school!!!) . 

Have fun!

Write Cook


What's the best beverage to drink when you're at the pool? Sweet tea? Fruit Punch? A simple, refreshing glass of cold water? 

Tasty Sentences

Hello, writers and teachers,
We have 2 1/2 weeks left before school starts! We've looked at the parts of speech and all the cool things we can do with them:
Wonderful Colorful Words (PDF — 428 KB)
And we've taken a closer look at the three most important parts of speech: Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives.
These last weeks of summer we'll focus on sentences.
This week we'll review sentence structure.
Study the following presentation, and then try to imitate the structure of the lizard sentences.
Tasty Sentences (PDF — 1 MB)
Here are more sentence resources:
Go to http://www.internet4classrooms.com/ and follow this pathway:
1- Grade Level Help
2- 6th Grade Skills
3- Skill Builders
4-Language Arts Activities
5- Grammar
6- Sentence Structure
Next week we'll review sentence fluency
Talk to you soon!
Write Cook
P.S. Hopefully you're all enjoying some yummy outdoor cooking!
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