Top 10 Reasons your students MUST answer in complete sentences.
So you are wondering if there are really 10 reasons why this is important. Well, I am here to tell you there are. (wink)
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Here are the top 10 reasons your students must answer in complete sentences
Let’s cut to the chase and give you the list about why students should answer in complete sentences, then I’ll review each a little more closely.
- It builds oral language skills.
- It helps English Language Learners gain more practice throughout the day.
- It builds listening skill.
- It teaches respect for others.
- It enhances writing skills.
- It keeps students engaged in learning during the entire lesson.
- It builds acceptance for peers, thus lowering bullying issues.
- It allows your Special Education students to be part of the class.
- It provides the repetition that is so crucial to learning.
- It helps your students become comfortable with public speaking.
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Okay, now it’s time for the details.
1. It builds language skills.
In my year’s teaching and in administration, I worked in primarily Hispanic regions and our schools were between 80% – 99% Second Language Learners. During these years I observed many students stumble over word tenses, mixing up he with she, him with her. And putting nouns before adjectives since that’s the way the Spanish language is structured. For example, “I rode in the car blue.”
But I am here to tell you that a full year of answering in complete sentences does a world of good for these sweet students.
2. It helps English Language Learners gain more practice throughout the day.
When Second Language Learners are required to speak in complete sentences throughout the day for 180 plus days, this really makes a difference. Before you know it, they have corrected a few of their mistakes and their confidence soars.
3. It builds listening skills.
When you structure your class so that what each student says is highly important to everyone and you hold an expectation that students are to listen to one another, listening skills improve immensely. In my recent article on partner sharing, I discuss how students must listen to their parter because you might call on them to tell the class what their partner said.
You can read the article here:
How to Use Effective Partner Sharing as an Instructional Strategy.
4. It teaches respect for others.
There is an underlying formality in classrooms where the teacher insists on answering in complete sentences. Formal, yet respectful – not stuffy formal. Students feel valued and learn that you hold high expectations because you are confident that they can handle the work and the challenge. This makes all humans feel good, especially children.
5. It enhances writing skills.
As every primary teacher knows, students are encouraged to “write how they would say it.” In this day of texts and emojis, we need to have students speaking in complete sentences so that when we tell them to write how the would say it; we are meaning “in a complete sentence.”
Then once they have the rough draft (and even a part of it), I have them read it ALOUD to me. Right away they catch their mistakes and head back to their desks to fix it. It’s quite adorable.
I even directed my upper elementary students to read their writing ALOUD to also catch their errors. When they have been answering and hearing answers in complete sentences this comes much easier.
6. It keeps students engaged in learning during the entire lesson.
When students know your expectations, and they DON’T KNOW when you are going to call on them (random selection) then their attention is heightened. Their little minds are twirling as they think about how they will answer if you call on them.
Often, in their excitement of knowing the answer, they blurt it out quickly in a small chunk (or phrase). All you need to do is politely say, “Thomas, will you repeat that great answer in a complete sentence please?”
7. It builds acceptance for peers, thus lowering bullying issues.
When an awkward student or a Special Education student provides their answer aloud in a complete sentence and the teacher responds politely, the other students are picking up on this.
If you believe you need to build on this acceptance, call on one of your overly energetic (and possible bully) students to repeat what this student said and ask if he/she agrees with this student. Of course, you would only do this if the answer is correct.
8. It allows your Special Education students to be part of the class.
I think I covered this explanation in the answer for number 7. So I won’t waste your time by repeating myself.
9. It provides the repetition that is so crucial to learning.
In my article on partner sharing (the one that is linked above) I discuss the importance of repetition. Did you know that you need to hear something between 7 and 10 times for it to move from your short term memory to your long term files.
It takes 7-10 repetitions to have information saved in the brain.
When students answer in a complete sentence and then you repeat after them or ask another student to repeat after them, you are providing the scaffolding for learning to take place.
10. It helps your student become comfortable with public speaking.
Students will have to get in front of their classmates every year up until they graduate from High School. It’s a great idea to help them get used to speaking clearly and completely when they stand up there.
Many of them (dare I say most of them) are SO SO nervous to speak publicly. But if your students have already been answering in complete sentences, supporting their answers from the text or online sources, etc. then you are far ahead of the game.
You are providing them with the gift of confidence. What a wonderful gift.
Do you have a few other ideas that should be on this list? Let me know if you do?
Your Teacher Buddy
