The strategy of Possible Sentences can be used to introduce new vocabulary terms to students. To implement this strategy, the teacher should first introduce the text that the students will be reading before writing the new words that they need to know and understand on the board. The teacher should then briefly goes over the meaning of the words prior to directing the students to construct possible sentences that the words could form. They can just use one word per sentence or multiple words. An example of a possible sentence students could write using the words proclamation and issue would be, "The king issued a proclamation to the entire kingdom." The teacher can then direct the students to then read the chapter and watch for the new words. When they find one, they can compare the sentence they wrote with that word with the sentence in the text. If their sentence isn't true (i.e. doesn't use the word correctly) the student should change it so that it does use the word correctly. This strategy has the benefit of not only helping struggling readers learn new vocabulary, but also aids in the learning of content material.
Visual Examples of Strategy in Use
In this video, the teacher explains how she uses possible sentences to build students background knowledge and vocabulary understanding. Although her way is slightly different from the description due to how she has her students
References:
Jennings, J., & Caldwell, J. (2014). Vocabulary Development and Listening Comprehension. In Reading Problems: Assessment and Teaching Strategies (Edition: 7. ed., p. 244). Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson.
Possible Sentences [Motion picture]. (2012). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbcJuQg4y_Y
Trafton, J. (2015, January 3). SLEEPING GIANT. Retrieved November 8, 2015, from http://www.sleepinggiantclasses.com/local/playingwithwords.html