# data[].attributes.body
Scaffolds help students understand academic content. Such tools as visuals, graphic organizers, Frayer models etc. help students to break a big task into small steps and grow their language proficiency. Students also should have an access to group work and cooperative learning

# data[].attributes.body
Using sentence stems allows students to focus on providing the answer, instead of the English necessary to reply. They are a starting point to help students organize their thoughts and begin conversations with one another.

# data[].attributes.body
Scaffolding makes content comprehensible and accessible for everyone. They are a means to give every student an opportunity to access academic content. The goal is to get students to a level that they will not need scaffolds, but scaffolds serve the purpose of giving students the hand that they need to get to a level of academics that we as educators want them to be at.

# data[].attributes.body
All students should have access to texts in prints and be able to engage with the texts, such as being read to. Instruction should be scaffolded such as including visual, graphic organizers, paraphrasing, and cooperative learning. These provide access to both academic content and growing students' English language proficiency.

# data[].attributes.body
Scaffolds are important across all content areas. It helps if students have something to compare things to. An example that I used to help students change the view of a screen. There was an update and I told them that they can go back to to old view if they hit the button that looks like the alarm button. It was a bit ridiculous, but it was quicker than going to each student individually to show them what I was talking about.

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence frames help students to initiate conversations or writing tasks, take away stress of putting sentence together and allows to focus strictly on the answer. Also, big part of language learning is memorization, and if ELLs consistently use various sentence frames it will help them to build up vocabulary. However, it won't limit them, it will just help to start. Later they can build on what they already know.

Amina

# data[].attributes.body
Scaffolding allows students to interact with the academic language and content, it helps to level the playing field and encouage more interaction.

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence frame and starters can be beneficial for all students through the idea of allowing them a way to organize their thoughts and have an expectation of what is being sought after by the teacher. This can also allow a teacher to provide an exemplar of what the answer should look like to also help drive thinking.

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence frames/starters allow any student to practice their writing, reading, and speaking skills in ways that independent work can't do. The frames/starters even allow students to see how a sentence should be structured. An educator can even give students an opportunity to share their frames with others so that they can practice their speaking and listening skills.

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence Frames help students frame their thinking. It shows students the proper grammar to use when they are speaking and writing. It also encourages the use of academic vocabulary to help ensure that students don't plateau in the intermediate levels.

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence starters get the ELs and all other students a chance to answer the question. Based on the level of learners can add more supports by having a word bank or more of a sentence starter, and for more advanced students you can do it wth fewer supports.

# data[].attributes.body
Scaffolds should be in place to help students to have access to the text. All students need to have access to text and especially in print.

# data[].attributes.headline
I like how the scaffold strategy is good across all content areas. - Elizabeth

# data[].attributes.subject
I like how the scaffold strategy is good across all content areas. - Elizabeth

# data[].attributes.body
Sentence frames can serve as a launch pad for ELs, especially those who might still be struggling with forming sentences using proper grammatical structures in English.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Rooted Linguistics: Serving Teachers of Multilingual Learners

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sentence Frames
Sentence frames essentially frame a sentence and students add in some verbiage. Think of a picture frame where you add in a picture. Sentence frames look very much like traditional fill in the blank sentences.

Here are some examples of sentence frames:

The square has ___sides/angles.

The ____has ___sides/angles.

The ___are the same/different.

Based on the experiment, I can infer that the ____will increase and the ____will decrease.

My name is_____ and I am ___years old.

The _____ revolted against the ____.

____ is north/south/east/west of ____.

___have ____, however, ____ have ____.

​Both ____ and ____ have ____.

Sentence frames are scaffolds that may fit the needs of English learners at beginning levels of English proficiency. Some students may also benefit from visuals and word banks.
However, sentence frames can be used with English learners at higher levels of English proficiency to teach specific language structures or to teach mortar words/tier II words.
Sentence Stems
A sentence stem is the beginning of a sentence. Think of the stem of a plant. It's not the whole plant, just the beginning of it. It helps students get their sentence started. Sometimes we use the term sentence starter interchangeably. Sentence stems give students the inertia to get their thoughts going. Then their sentences bloom.

Here are examples of sentence stems:

What surprised me was...because....

I think that...for example

First...then...next...

In my opinion....in addition...

Based on the passage, I can infer that...for example....

I don't understand why....

Based on the pattern, the numbers will...

Sentence stems are scaffolds for English learners at all levels of English proficiency. They are open ended.
Personalizing
By thinking of the end in mind, you can level and personalize sentence frames or sentence stems to help English learners progress in language proficiency.

Beginning-Simple sentence structure: ____and ___ are quadrilaterals.

Intermediate-Comparative sentence structure: ___and ___ are quadrilaterals, however ___has___.

Advanced-Complex comparative sentence structure: Although___and ___ are ___, ___is different because...

Why is it important for us to provide students with sentence frames or sentence stems?
Learning to communicate effectively is important for all of us. I think we can all agree on that. But providing students with vocabulary lists will not achieve that goal.

Backward Design
Let's begin with the end in mind again. What is our over-aching goal? If we want students to, let's say, understand and communicate effectively using domain specific vocabulary (vocabulary of our content area), then how will we get them there?

Students will need to hear the vocabulary in context (from the teacher and peers)

Students will need to use the vocabulary in context (in speaking and writing)

To set English learner up for success, we will provide them with linguistic supports that they may use until they no longer need them. Any student can use them, but English learners especially will benefit as they are learning English and content simultaneously.

1. We can begin by modeling the language we want students to use. We want students to hear the language structures and vocabulary over and over again.

2. Then we move to letting them use the vocabulary and language structures with partners. We provide them with sentence frames or sentence stems. They practice verbalizing and hearing a peer multiple times.

3. Finally, we move to writing. Students are asked to write. Some students will rely on the sentence frames or sentence stems as scaffolds. Others will be able to write independently. Either way, students will have had the opportunity to learn from the teacher, verbalized themselves, and heard from peers.

This model takes students through the Gradual Release of Responsibility or I do, We do, You do model.
How do I think of vocabulary?
Start with your grade level standard. Look at what students need to know. Whether it's Common Core or not, your state standards will reveal vocabulary that is critical for your students to master.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Well, first and foremost, we should care if we want our students to speak like scholars. If we want our students to be marketable after they graduate. If we want them TO graduate! Then we should...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Using sentence starters and sentence frames is one strategy to support students in speaking, reading, and writing. A sentence starter is when you give students the beginning part of a sentence and they fill in the rest. A sentence frame is when there are blanks inside a sentence that students fill in. Here are some ways to use sentence stems and frames as a scaffold to support your multilingual learners (MLs).

Sentence stems are helpful for getting students started with speaking or writing about a topic. For intermediate and advanced language learners, encourage them to give longer responses. A beginner might only use one word to finish the sentence frame, and a newcomer might point to pictures instead of speaking.

Sentence frames are great for practicing parts of speech and modeling correct grammar.

***Scroll to the bottom of the post to get this information as a FREE handout to share with other teachers in your school.***

Support Newcomers & Emergent Readers

Simple sentence starters allow students to read or say a basic sentence and then fill in their own information. You can use them as a way for students to practice new vocabulary. They use the same sentence starter and fill in new information each time they read the sentence.
I like _______. Go to the ______.
Word banks and Pictures

Word banks, and word banks with pictures are additional scaffolds that support vocabulary development. A newcomer may point to the pictures to complete a sentence stem or sentence frame. A beginner might remember the English word for a picture but not yet be able to read it. An intermediate student might need support with spelling content vocabulary words.

Teach Grammatical Structure

Use sentence frames to model grammar structure and practice parts of speech. Include which part of speech a student should use as part of the sentence frame for intermediate students. For newcomers and beginners, show words and pictures that are the correct part of speech for them to choose from.

You can also set up sentence starters to model the correct grammatical structure that you want students to practice. The verb is an important part of the sentence starter.
(past) Yesterday I went ________. (present) Now I am ___________. (future) Tomorrow I will _________.
Teach Academic Language

Sentence starters or sentence frames can support all students in learning academic language. You can include academic language terms that you want students to practice in a sentence stem as a way for students to practice using the new term.

The main idea is ________.

The most important fact is ________.

The most important facts are ________.

A _______ is the same as _______.

A _______ is different than _______.

I can compare a ______ with a _____. They are both the same because _______.

Teach Content Information

Use sentence stems and frames to help students show their knowledge about content information. Include pictures and word banks to support MLs.

Can Have Are Charts

Use a can/have/are chart to help students organize important information about a topic. You can also have students fill out the chart as part of a unit assessment.

The grasslands are ______.

Beavers can _____.

Dinosaurs were ______.

Resources with Sentence Frames

Here are premade resources that have built in sentence frames or sentence stems and pictures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sentence Starters and Frames for MLs - A World of Language Learners

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about using sentence starters and sentence frames as a scaffold to support English Language Learners. You can use sentence...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teacher Toolkit: Sentence Stems (High School)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ESL Strategy Toolkit: Dr. Cummins on Language Scaffolding Across Subjects