John Archambault/Upper Elementary · Language Arts
What Is That Word Doing?
A seven-lesson course in sentence analysis for upper elementary teachers. Learn to teach students not just what kind of word something is, but what it is doing in the sentence.
John Archambault
Montessori educator · Upper Elementary
$19.99
One-time payment · Lifetime access
What this course is about
Sentence analysis is not mainly about the nine parts of speech. It is about what each word is doing in the sentence — the role it plays, not just the kind of word it is. A noun can be a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, or something else entirely. A Lower El definition tells you all three are nouns. Sentence analysis asks what each one is doing.
This course is for teachers of fourth and fifth graders, though it works with third graders and many sixth graders who haven't seen it. John's approach draws on the Montessori tradition: colors, shapes, sizes, and positions all carry meaning, and students get to move the pieces around.
Seven lessons, then a final assessment. Pass, and you'll receive your certificate and professional development record.
What you'll be able to do
Explain the difference between a word's kind and its role in a sentence
Introduce sentence analysis to students in grades 3–6 using colors, shapes, and questions
Guide students through the systematic question sequence that identifies each word's function
Connect sentence analysis to other languages, writing, and cross-subject vocabulary
Distinguish sentence analysis from sentence diagramming and explain the advantages of each
Answer parent and administrator questions about why this work is worth the time
Course outline
Seven lessons, self-paced. Each lesson includes John's explanation, audio clips, and a short check.
Why Sentence Analysis
What sentence analysis is, who it's for, and why it's worth the time.
The Detective Arrives
What's going on in the sentence, and who or what is doing it.
The Direct Object
Whom or what the action is directed toward.
The Indirect Object
To whom or for whom the action is done.
Adjectives
Words that describe — what kind, which one, how many.
Adverbs
Words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Putting It Together
Analyzing complete sentences. Fresh sentences you work through yourself.
What's included
7 lessons
John's explanation, audio clips, and slide content for each lesson
Lesson quizzes
Short recall checks at the end of each lesson
Final assessment
Analyze fresh sentences yourself to demonstrate mastery
Certificate of completion
Downloadable certificate and professional development record
Audio clips
John's voice on key concepts, in his own words
Lifetime access
Return to any lesson at any time
About the instructor
Montessori educator · Upper Elementary
John Archambault
John Archambault has taught sentence analysis to upper elementary students for decades, drawing on the Montessori tradition of colors, shapes, and questions to make grammar tangible. His students have analyzed the preambles to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Questions
Ready to start?
Seven lessons. A certificate when you pass. Everything you need to bring sentence analysis into your classroom.
One-time payment · Lifetime access