First Sentences
Say It, Build It, Write It
About this book
Grammar for meaning
This workbook teaches grammar as a tool for saying what you mean. Learners choose exact nouns and capitalize proper names, use verbs to show past, present and future, make subjects and verbs agree, fix pronouns that could confuse a reader, and turn fragments into complete sentences. Every part follows the same steps: get ready, learn it, see it worked out, try it together, practice alone, look back, and check and fix. Short real-life tasks, such as a lost-and-found note and a class newsletter report, put each skill to work. An answer key explains every answer and names a common mistake to watch for.
- Readiness check with starting routes
- Four parts: nouns, verbs and time, agreement and pronouns, editing
- Worked examples with the thinking shown
- Mixed review, exit check and a retry page
- Answer key with reasons and pages to revisit
With explained answers for every page
Look inside
What this book covers
Covered
- In this book you will use nouns, verbs and agreement to build clear sentences.
- You will choose exact nouns, pick verbs that show the right time, make subjects and verbs match, and edit sentences so a reader understands them.
Not covered
Punctuation, adjectives and paragraphs are covered only lightly.
Notice
Check answers with the explanations at the back of the book.
The steps in this book
- Step 1: Get Ready
Check the skills you need before you begin. If something feels tricky, an adult can help you start in the right place.
- Step 2: Learn It
Read a short, clear explanation of the new idea and the words that go with it.
- Step 3: See It
Watch the idea being used, one step at a time, in a worked example.
- Step 4: Try It Together
Practice with prompts and help cues. The help gets smaller as you get stronger.
- Step 5: On Your Own
Practice on your own with different kinds of questions, and explain your thinking.
- Step 6: Look Back
Look back at earlier learning so it stays strong, then check where to go next.
- Step 7: Check and Fix
Check your answers. Each answer explains why, names a common mistake, and shows how to fix it.
What is in the book
The modules
- Module 1: Nouns and referencePages 5–14
- Module 2: Verbs and timePages 15–24
- Module 3: Agreement and pronounsPages 25–34
- Module 4: Edit for meaningPages 35–44
Contents
- Readiness check, pp. 3–4. Before Module 1. Its table tells you where to start.
- Modules, pp. 5–44
- Checkpoints, pp. 14, 24, 34, 44. The last page of each module.
- Mixed review, pp. 45–48. Questions from across the book, mixed together.
- Exit check, pp. 49–50. A last check across the book.
- Reflect and repair, p. 51
- Try again, p. 52. Fresh questions like those in the exit check.
- Extra practice, p. 53
- Answers and explanations, pp. 54–64. Notes in this part are headed “Why”, “Common mistake” and “Help”.