

Have students rewrite the original sentence using the new signal word.Įncourage students to record examples of signal words in texts and in their own writing. Then, present another signal word from the same category, such as although. To reinforce this idea, display the sentence Emma loves strawberry ice cream however, she dislikes vanilla. Some words and phrases cannot be substituted directly for others in a sentence. The same advice applies when students are writing, but be careful-not all signal words are equal, even those in the same category. Although it is primarily a writing task, sentence completion engages thought processes similar to those used when making sentence-level predictions based on context clues while reading.Įxplain to students that when they are reading, they should slow down when they see signal words and think about what is coming next. This activity encourages students to think creatively about the meaning of each signal word.

Students can share their sentences and discuss the type of signal word. Then, have them complete the sentence by adding information based on the meaning of the signal word (e.g., I thought I was late for school, but _ ). Provide partial sentences and have students underline the signal word. In addition, the collaborative aspect of this activity will pay off when students peer-edit their writing. Getting students up and moving has been shown to strengthen learning, improve memory, and boost motivation. Have students arrange themselves in groups based on the purpose of their assigned words. Finally, write signal words on sticky notes and give one to each student. Then, discuss the purpose of each type of signal word using the chart below for reference.
#Signal phrase examples drivers
Review the concept of a signal word: a word or phrase that gives an idea about what we might expect to come next, just like road signs or traffic signals that let drivers know what's coming up. They'll give your students a chance to build familiarity with different categories of signal words, use these words in their own writing, and make connections while reading-all terrific ways to improve comprehension! Take a look at the engaging activities below. With a solid foundation of signal-word knowledge, students can build a framework for new ideas and information by reflecting on what they just read and anticipating what might come next. The ability to identify and understand the meaning of signal words is like having X-ray vision while reading. These are signal words, and they are sentence superheroes. Consider words and phrases that indicate relationships between ideas, like also, however, as a result, in addition, for example, and in contrast. Students need to be alert, vocal, and willing to act in order to stop bullying online.Signal Words: 5 Fun Ways to Explain these Sentence Superheroes!Īll words are powerful, but some words have superpowers.( Title: "When a Crystal Becomes Nobel Worthy" / Author: Ishmael Crowder) It was about the unique composition of quasicrystals and how their discovery was controversial.A boy is stranded in a vast wilderness and must survive.The article “Why Do Leaves Change Color?” by Desmond Lee reports that autumn leaves change because they lose their green pigment. ( Title: "Why Do Leaves Change Color?" / Author: Desmond Lee) It was about how autumn leaves change because they lose their green pigment.Reword other parts of the sentence as needed.


Make sure to identify the title and author and use a vivid verb. Your Turn Add signal phrases to the following sentences. When writing signal phrases, replace bland verbs ( is, was, were) with vivid verbs ( describes, insists, reports). You can use a signal phrase to "signal" to readers where the information comes from.Īn effective signal phrase identifies the title and author and uses a vivid verb to introduce the source's idea. Whenever you include another person’s idea in your writing, you should credit the source of the information.
