Introducing Writing Instruction for Adults!

ATLAS offers resources around writing instruction for adults, including how it intersects with evidence-based reading instruction.  The online Writing Instruction resource library houses the following:

• Professional development opportunities in the area of writing
• Relevant writing research studies and summaries
• Resources supporting best practices for ABE writing instruction
• Resources for post-secondary writing development

One of the best practice writing resources is Tiered Sentence Combining: Strategies and exercises for combining short sentences with and, but, or, so (TSC). It was developed over several years with input from many MN STARs.*

* Learn more about the MN STAR program >>

According to adult literacy research and teacher observation, many ABE students tend to overuse short, simple sentences in their writing. Explicit sentence combining instruction helps them write sentences that are longer, more complex or interesting, and varied in structure. TSC provides a starting point that may ultimately improve ABE students’ sentence composition, complexity, and comprehension. In addition to Teacher Background and Teacher Information pages, TSC:

1. Presents 6 strategies for combining short sentences with the common connectors and, but, or, so
2. Offers 16 Student Exercises using Tier One (concrete, everyday, basic) words and 32 exercises using Tier 2 (abstract, sophisticated, academic) words
3. Recommends an explicit and integrated instructional process of READ-WRITE-READ
4. Provides an Answer Key for each set of Student Exercises
5. Includes adult-relevant sentence topics and practitioner ideas for use in ABE, ESL, or GED classrooms
6. Aligns with College and Career Readiness Standards, Language CCR Anchor 1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking

Tiered Sentence Combining is posted as a Word file because teachers are highly encouraged to make changes in formatting or wording that will benefit students’ sentence combining readiness or success. They are also respectfully requested to contact Marn Frank at [email protected] to suggest corrections or improvements.