Sentence Digs

Calling all readers and writers: Dig into texts as you never have before with SENTENCE DIGS!

By digging into the ways words come together to bring meaning to the text, readers can crack open the meaning of complex texts they are reading and writers can create sentences that are strong enough to hold the big ideas they want to express. Sentence Digs is an innovative guide from trusted literacy leader Aimee Buckner Haisten that shows teachers how to deepen their students’ understanding of reading and writing by harnessing the reciprocal relationship between syntax (sentence structure) and semantics (meaning).

This handy resource establishes an instructional framework for exploring and analyzing grammatical components at the sentence level with engaging lessons, called sentence digs. These lessons seamlessly integrate reading comprehension with writing instruction, fostering a strong understanding of their intricate relationship. Students chunk sentences to analyze and discuss their grammatical features, uncovering how word order and structure create meaning for the reader. Then, by manipulating sentence elements, students gain a deeper appreciation for the writer's craft and the choices professional writers make to convey specific ideas and emotions. By the end of the sentence dig, students will have opportunities to dig deeper into the text through ongoing discussions and opportunities to practice applying the sentence’s structure in their writing.

Sentence Digs offers focused interactions across three critical components of the learning day:

• Reading comprehension: Improve students' ability to analyze complex texts and understand nuanced meanings.
• Writing instruction: Develop strong writing skills by guiding students to craft sentences that are precise, impactful, and expressive.
• Content area connections: Integrate language study across disciplines, enhancing learning in subjects like science, social studies, and literature.

If you want to invite your students into authentic conversations about reading, writing, and language, Sentence Digs offers an engaging, use-tomorrow resource that is sure to become a trusted resource that third to sixth grade teachers will come back to year after year.