Function Words

Function words tell a reader about the structure of a sentence, they are words that have syntactic words.  ELs may be confused about function word usage and meaning and can benefit from explicit instruction (Anderson and Roit, 1998).  This lesson gives students the ability to discriminate the meaning of prepositions.  This lesson is appropriate for kindergarten and above, as needed. This lesson can be used with a whole group, small group or pairs.

The components of function words are:

1. Teach/Model - Tell students they are going to learn a new word that they use or will use often in reading, writing and speaking.
2. Introduce the target word - Ask students questions that either contain the target word or the require the students to use the target word in the response.
3. Guided practice - Continuing asking students questions that either contain the target word or the require the students to use the target word in the response.
4. Repeat with second target word.
5. Guided mixed practice - Students will now practice both target words.
6. Practice using the target words - Ask students questions that either contain the target word or the require the students to use the target word in the response.
7. Practice using the target words - Provide a picture and ask students questions about the picture that either contain the target word or the require the students to use the target word in the response.
8. Independent practice - Have the students practice using the words and asking and answering questions containing the target words with partners.