Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Run On Sentences....

My DS6 needs help w/run on sentences.
Maybe this comes w/age??
When he writes stories, reports etc., he keeps going and going doesn't know when to end a sentence.
Any methods or tricks on how to teach him when to stop a sentence?

We did something with this at about that age by starting with an outline. Basically my approach was to say list your ideas, group them, put them in order, and then make each sentence about one thing.

But then I'm the queen of run-on sentences myself, so this is kind of a "do as I say, not as I do" situation...

Funny Kar1200,
I am also the queem of run-on sentences.
I tried to explain them to my DS last night and gave up.

Tell him he's not allowed to use the words "And" or "But". Everytime he feels the need, put in a period instead. It's a little extreme, makes for a choppy story in some cases but if he does it a few times, he'll understand. It worked for my DS6 and he's a hardheaded little cuss!

OH that is great!!
I am going to try it.
I did notice a lot of "ands" and "buts" in his story.
THANKS!

Tell him to read it aloud.

Yes, reading aloud is great for all writers, at any age or stage of expertise. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Thanks Kriston that is true.
My DS hates to write so he flies through writing and then wants nothing more to do with it.
Funny how he doesn;t care if his writing is "perfect" but almost every other aspect of life is ruined if it is not "perfect". We had 2 meltdowns already today one being the snowman we built wasn't "perfect" soooo draining!!!!!!!!

Conjunction junction - whaaaats your function??

Anyone remember those little grammar skits that used to be on kid's TV?

Hookin' up words and phrases and clauses...

Nope. No idea what you mean, Austin. :p

I bought the whole "Schoolhouse Rock!" set for my kids: math, history, grammar, etc.

Funny story: my 8th grade history teacher required that we memorize the Preamble to the Constitution, and he told us that anyone humming the tune from "Schoolhouse Rock!" out loud would fail. It was hard not to! The only thing on the test that anyone in the whole class missed was the first "of the United States of America" because it's not in the song! LOL!