Time Linkers Slides Grade 2 ELD • WIDA Cohesion
Lesson 1 of 3
Sentence Bridges
Time Linkers
Connecting our story ideas with time order words: First, Next, Then, and Last!
Goal: I can build a time bridge between two sentences!
Why Do We Need Time Words?
Choppy vs. Flowing
Choppy & Bumpy Ideas
I wake up.
I brush my teeth.
I eat breakfast.
Isolated ideas with no bridge!
Connected with Time Words!
First, I wake up.
Next, I brush my teeth.
Last, I eat breakfast.
Smooth and connected story!
Time words tell your reader when things happen!
Our 4 Time Stepping Stones
Word Bank
1
First
The beginning of the story.
2
Next
What happens after.
3
Then
Another step in time.
4
Last
The end of the story.
Tip: Put a comma ( , ) right after your time word!
Let's Try: How to Grow a Flower
We Do
1
First,
we dig a small hole in dirt.
2
Next,
we drop the seed inside.
3
Then,
we pour warm water on top.
4
Last,
a pretty flower grows!
Great job! The 4 time words link our steps together!
Partner Talk Time
Oral Language
Tell your partner what you do before school:
"First, I ________________."
"Next, I ________________."
"Last, I ________________."
Listen carefully: Did your partner use time words?
Ready for Worksheet!
Time Linkers Worksheet Grade 2 ELD • Cohesion
Time Linkers Bridge
Name:
Date:
Word Bank: Time Stepping Stones Remember: add a comma after each word!
First, Step 1 (Start)
Next, Step 2 (After)
Then, Step 3 (Keep going)
Last, Step 4 (End)
A
How to Make a Jam Sandwich: Fill in the time word!
I get two slices of bread.
I spread sweet strawberry jam.
I put the two bread slices together.
I take a big, yummy bite!
B
Build the Bridge: Rewrite the sentences with time words!
Choppy: I put on my shoes. I tie the laces.
Write sentence 1 with First:
Write sentence 2 with Next:
My Checklist
I used a capital letter I added a comma (,) I put a period at the end
Time Linkers Teacher Guide Teacher Guide • Lesson 1 of 3
Time Linkers: Instructional Plan
Focus: Temporal Cohesion 30-40 Minutes • Grade 2
WIDA Language Focus: Cohesion of Language
Discourse Dimension: Connect isolated, simple clauses into chronological narrative sequences using temporal transitions (First, Next, Then, Last) with appropriate punctuation (commas).
Level 1-2 (Entering / Emerging): Point to pictorial sequence cards; verbally produce single transition words + verb phrase with visual frames.
Level 3-4 (Developing / Expanding): Produce 3-4 connected sentences using First, Next, Then, and Last orally and in guided writing.
Lesson Flow & Pacing
05 Mins
Hook & The Bumpy Story: Read 3 sentences like a robot: "I wake up. I dress. I eat." Ask students: "Does this sound smooth or bumpy?" Introduce the sentence bridge concept.
10 Mins
Direct Modeling & Kinesthetic Routine: Present Slide 3. Teach TPR hand signs: First (1 finger in air), Next (slide hand forward), Then (pat desk), Last (clap hands together). Choral chant with comma pause.
10 Mins
Partner Speaking Practice: Use Slide 5. Student A shares morning routine using First and Next . Student B listens for the time words and gives a thumbs up. Swap roles.
10 Mins
Independent Application: Distribute "Time Linkers Worksheet". Circulate to prompt comma usage and correct order of operations.
Common Misconceptions
Using "Then" at the very beginning of a narrative.
Forgetting the comma pause after transitional adverbs.
Repeating "and then... and then... and then..." without variation.
Support & Extension
Support: Provide tactile color-coded word cards to place physically before each written sentence.
Extension: Challenge students to use "After that" or "Finally" as advanced synonyms.
Exit Ticket Prompt (Verbal): "Tell me two things you do at recess using First and Next ."
Assessing Cohesion
Pronoun Swaps Slides Grade 2 ELD • WIDA Cohesion
Lesson 2 of 3
Sentence Bridges
Pronoun Swaps
Connecting sentences without repeating names: Swap with He, She, It, and They!
Goal: I can link two sentences using a pronoun!
Why Do We Swap Nouns?
Sentence Flow
Too Many Names! (Robot Talk)
Mia is my friend.
Mia plays soccer.
Mia scores a goal.
Saying "Mia" 3 times sounds tiring!
Pronoun Bridge (Smooth Talk)
Mia is my friend.
She plays soccer.
She scores a goal.
"She" points right back to Mia!
Pronouns connect your sentences and make your stories flow!
Meet The 4 Pronoun Helpers
Anchor Chart
He
1 Boy or Man
Leo, Dad, Teacher Bob
She
1 Girl or Woman
Mia, Mom, Sister
It
1 Animal or Thing
The dog, The ball, The sun
They
2 or More
The kids, Birds, Friends
Swap rule: Name the person first. Then use the pronoun in sentence 2!
Let's Try: Find the Best Swap!
We Do
"The puppy plays. The puppy has a toy."
Swap with: It
"Carlos runs fast. Carlos wins the race."
Swap with: He
"The students sing. The students smile."
Swap with: They
Awesome! The pronoun points back to the noun so everyone understands!
Partner Swap Game
Oral Practice
Partner A:
Say a sentence about a person, animal, or thing:
"My teacher reads stories."
Partner B:
Add a second sentence using the matching pronoun:
"She loves books!" or "He loves books!"
Take turns! Did your partner pick He, She, It, or They?
Ready for Worksheet!
Pronoun Swaps Worksheet Grade 2 ELD • Cohesion
Pronoun Swaps Bridge
Name:
Date:
Pronoun Helpers Bank
He 1 boy / man
She 1 girl / woman
It 1 animal / thing
They 2 or more
A
Circle the pronoun that matches the noun:
1. Carlos
He She It
2. The cat
He It They
3. Anna
She He They
4. Two dogs
It She They
B
Fill in the blank with the right pronoun:
1. Maria has a red bike.
rides to the park.
2. Ben saw a yellow bird.
sang a sweet song.
3. Sam and Leo run fast.
love to race.
C
Sentence Fixer: Rewrite the second sentence with a pronoun!
Choppy: "Liam kicks the ball. Liam laughs."
Write sentence 2 with the pronoun:
My Checklist
Capital pronoun Matched the noun Period at the end
Pronoun Swaps Teacher Guide Teacher Guide • Lesson 2 of 3
Pronoun Swaps: Instructional Plan
Focus: Referential Cohesion 30-40 Minutes • Grade 2
WIDA Language Focus: Cohesion of Language
Discourse Dimension: Maintain topic clarity across sentences by substituting repetitive antecedent nouns with third-person singular and plural pronouns (he, she, it, they).
Level 1-2 (Entering / Emerging): Point and match noun cards to corresponding pronoun cards; complete cloze sentences using word bank cues.
Level 3-4 (Developing / Expanding): Produce paired sentences independently, verbally replacing repeated nouns with proper pronoun agreement.
Lesson Flow & Pacing
05 Mins
Hook & "Robot Reader": Read: "Mia likes apples. Mia went to the store. Mia bought apples." Talk about why saying "Mia" over and over feels robotic.
10 Mins
Anchor Modeling & Physical Cueing: Show Slide 3. Teach gestures: He (point right), She (point left), It (point to an object/desk), They (open both arms wide to group). Practice chant: "Noun first, pronoun next!"
10 Mins
Guided Partner Game: Display Slide 5. Student A names a character ("The dog is barking"), Student B completes with a pronoun link ("It wants a bone!").
10 Mins
Worksheet Practice & Conferring: Students complete "Pronoun Swaps Worksheet". Check for pronoun capitalization at the start of sentence 2.
Linguistic Alert (L1 Interference)
Pro-drop languages (Spanish, Arabic): Students may omit subject pronouns entirely ("is happy" instead of "He is happy").Genderless pronouns in L1 (Mandarin, Tagalog): Confusion between "he" and "she" in speech is common. Praise intent, gently model the swap.
Targeted Scaffolding
Visual Cue: Draw a looping backward arrow from the pronoun "She" back to "Mia" in the previous sentence to show the referent link.
Color Code: Highlight the antecedent noun in blue and the pronoun in yellow.
Formative Quick Check: Hold up picture card of 2 dogs. Ask: "Which word bridges them into sentence 2?" (Expected: "They").
Referent Check
Cause Clues Slides Grade 2 ELD • WIDA Cohesion
Lesson 3 of 3
Sentence Bridges
Cause Clues
Connecting causes and results like puzzle pieces using Because and So!
Goal: I can explain WHY things happen with connector words!
Two Ideas Snap Together!
Sentence Snap
What Happened
I wore a warm coat
because Connector Word
The Reason (Why)
it was very cold outside.
Complete Idea: "I wore a warm coat because it was cold."
Instead of two short sentences, connector words build one smart idea!
Our Two Cause Connectors
Word Clues
because
Tells the REASON (Why?)
"The dog barked because he heard a sound."
Action ➔ Reason
so
Tells the RESULT (What happened?)
"It was raining, so I opened my umbrella."
Cause ➔ Result
Clue: "Because" explains why. "So" tells what you do!
Which Word Connects the Idea?
We Do
"I was thirsty, ______ I drank cold water."
so
"She smiled ______ she won the game."
because
"He was sleepy, ______ he went to bed early."
so
You are master sentence builders!
Partner "Why" Talk
Oral Practice
Use the cause bridge to explain an emotion:
"I am happy because ________________."
"I am tired, so ________________."
Did your partner give a reason or result?
Ready for Worksheet!
Cause Clues Worksheet Grade 2 ELD • Cohesion
Cause Clues Bridge
Name:
Date:
Connector Word Bank
because Tells WHY (The Reason)
so Tells WHAT HAPPENS (The Result)
A
Choose the best connector word:
1. I put on boots ________ it was muddy.
because so
2. The bell rang, ________ the kids lined up.
because so
3. Maya ate an apple ________ she was hungry.
because so
4. It was sunny, ________ we played outside.
because so
B
Finish the sentence with your own idea:
1. I smiled because...
2. It was hot, so...
C
Sentence Builder: Connect the two ideas with because!
Two ideas: "Leo wore a hat." + "It was cold."
Write the connected sentence:
My Checklist
Used because or so Capital letter start Period at end
Cause Clues Teacher Guide Teacher Guide • Lesson 3 of 3
Cause Clues: Instructional Plan
Focus: Causal Cohesion 30-40 Minutes • Grade 2
WIDA Language Focus: Cohesion of Language
Discourse Dimension: Synthesize reasons and results across clauses using causal connectors (because for reason; so for consequence) to create compound, logical relationships.
Level 1-2 (Entering / Emerging): Match paired picture cards representing cause and effect; select between "because" or "so" using sentence frames.
Level 3-4 (Developing / Expanding): Orally formulate complete causal explanations using "because" and "so" without reversing cause-and-effect order.
Lesson Flow & Pacing
05 Mins
Mystery Hook: Hold up an umbrella. Say: "I opened this umbrella. Why? Because it was raining!" Ask students: "What word gave you the clue?"
10 Mins
Puzzle Piece Modeling & TPR: Use Slide 2 & 3. Teach hand motions: Hands interlock like puzzle pieces when saying because . Push both hands forward when saying so (action leading forward).
10 Mins
Partner "Why Talk" Game: Slide 5. Student A states a feeling ("I am proud..."), Student B prompts with "Why?", Student A connects with "...because I worked hard!"
10 Mins
Worksheet Application: Students complete "Cause Clues Worksheet". Monitor Part C to ensure logical ordering of clauses.
Preventing Reversed Logic
Common Pitfall: Young learners frequently invert logic: "It was raining because I took an umbrella." Quick Fix: Teach the test question: "Which thing happened first in real life? The rain happened first!"
Cohesion Unit Synthesis
Culminating Challenge: Ask students to combine all 3 tools:
"First , Carlos was sad because he lost his dog. Then , he found it!"
Unit Mastery Check: Can the student articulate a cause connector without prompting?
WIDA Cohesion Pass
