My Word Box

Your Child Will Learn

Sequence words to make complete sentences

Give your child a small box with a lid or cover that they can decorate and tell them the box will hold new words they learn (make it a routine to add new words)
Start by writing the words contained in simple sentences about things they are learning in school, like, “trucks have wheels” or “trains can move quickly and slowly.”
Write simple words that help make sentences like, “a”, “the”, or “is” on strips of paper and put them inside the box too.
Have your child shake the box and pull out 3-5 words; work together to create complete sentences with the word strips from the box

PAUSE

Sit in a distraction-free place and say to your child, “let’s get your word box and make some sentences together”

ENGAGE

Ask your child to share about things they’re learning in school, and make simple sentences out of them, expanding their vocabulary and descriptions.
For new and advanced words, make sure you explain the definitions if your child does not already know

ENCOURAGE

If your child struggles with making sentences out of the words in the box, tell them to keep moving the words around and read the sentences out loud until they create a complete sentence that makes sense
If your child wants to make a specific sentence and does not have those words in the box, ask them what words should be added to the box

REFLECT

Instead of shaking the box and selecting random words to make sentences, take all of the words out and make complete sentences

Teach your child about the categories of words, like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and articles

They will discover that words can be sequenced in different ways to create complete sentences

15-20 minutes

Box examples: shoe box, recycled snack food box, recycled candy box

Paint, markers, glue, colored paper, stickers, paper, pencil, scissors