Skip to the content
Peabody TeachFor teachers and grown-ups

Sentence frame cards for English learners v0.1.0

What learners do
LevelsChoose none to print all of them.
Format

Sentence frame cards3 pages · Letter · portrait

DescribeStartingIt is ________.
DescribeDevelopingIt has ________ and it looks ________.
DescribeExpandingThe ________ is ________ because it has ________, so it can ________.
CompareStarting________ and ________ are ________.
CompareDeveloping________ is ________er than ________.
CompareExpandingBoth ________ and ________ ________, but ________ is ________ while ________ is ________.
Ask a questionStartingWhat is ________?
Ask a questionDevelopingCan you tell me how ________?
Ask a questionExpandingI wonder why ________ when ________.
Give an opinionStartingI like ________.
Give an opinionDevelopingI think ________ because ________.
Give an opinionExpandingIn my opinion, ________ is better than ________ because ________.
Explain whyStarting________ because ________.
Explain whyDevelopingI know ________ because ________.
Explain whyExpandingOne reason ________ is that ________. Another reason is ________.
Put in orderStartingFirst ________. Then ________.
Put in orderDevelopingFirst ________. Next ________. Last ________.
Put in orderExpandingAt the beginning ________. After that ________. Finally ________.
PredictStartingI think ________ will ________.
PredictDevelopingI predict that ________ will ________ because ________.
PredictExpandingBased on ________, I predict that ________ will ________ because ________.
RetellStarting________ went to ________.
RetellDevelopingIn the story, ________ wanted ________ so ________.
RetellExpandingIn the beginning ________. Then ________ happened. In the end ________.
Share

Printable sentence frames for describing, comparing, asking, giving an opinion, explaining, putting in order, predicting and retelling, each at three levels from starting to expanding, as cards or as a poster. Free to print; nothing to sign in to, and nothing a learner does is typed or kept, and only your menu choices stay in this browser.

Was this useful?

How to use it

  1. Tick the things you want learners to do with language, such as Describe or Retell.
  2. Tick the levels you need: Starting, Developing or Expanding.
  3. Choose Cards to cut out, or Poster for the wall.
  4. Print on Letter paper. Learners say the frame aloud first, then write it.

Ideas for class

  • Give a Starting card to a newcomer and an Expanding card to a learner who is ready for more.
  • Hang the poster beside the reading corner.
  • Use the Retell cards after a read-aloud.
  • Let partners take turns finishing the same frame in different ways.
  • Move a learner up a level when the easier frame feels automatic.

Related

Questions

What are the three levels?

Starting is a short frame, Developing adds a reason or detail, and Expanding links several ideas together.

Does it ask for a child's name or language?

No. There is no box for a name or any detail about a child.

How many cards fit on a page?

Eight cards to a Letter page, or four functions to a page on the poster.

Nothing you choose is sent to us, and there is no box for a name or any detail about a child. Your menu choices stay in this browser, and a share link carries them, never a learner's details. No sign-in, no ads, no AI. What each tool stores