Get Your Writer to Write More with Twin Sentences!

Elementary-aged writers are always finished with their writing --

"I added a word!" 

"But I can't think of anything else!"

"Oh come on! I'm DONE!"

Getting my fourth graders to add more to their stories was always a herculean task... That is until I heard about the glorious Twin Sentences strategy! It's quick and so easy for kids to understand.

So What Are Twin Sentences?  

For every sentence they write, it must be followed by a sentence that adds more detail. This lets us SHOW our readers, rather than TELL them what's going on in our stories. We want our readers to see a movie in their heads, not fall asleep while reading.

For example...

The sentence,  "Bobby walked through the park on his way home from school" is a good start. It has a clear subject, predicate, and even some light details. It does not, however, help me imagine Bobby's walk at all. What is he seeing? What is he thinking? How is he walking? (Insert any other question you could ask about Bobby's journey here).

When students are trying to revise a sentence directly, it's difficult for them to see how they can change it up. On the other hand, adding a second sentence as a follow up always seems much more manageable. For example, their story might now read:

Bobby walked through the park on his way home from school. The tall trees hugged the winding path. 

or

Bobby walked through the park on his way home from school. "A little fresh air and sunshine always help me to feel better after a long day," he thought to himself. 

or

Bobby walked through the park on his way home from school. He stared down at his shoes the whole time hoping no one would notice him on this gloomy day. 

The possibilities are endless!

Notice how the Twin Sentences either add scenic detail, dialogue, or convey emotion within the story. Nearly every sentence can use a twin to help it along! After all, don't we all need a little help from our friends sometimes?

For an easy to use Twin Sentence printable, check out my TPT page by clicking here! Please leave a review if you can. 😊

Let's encourage our young writers to elaborate!