Sentence Power Slides Apex Writing Lab • Week 1
15-Minute Mini-Lesson
MISSION 01
The Sentence Engine
Every strong sentence needs two power cores: a Hero (Who) and an Action (What they do).
Rule 1: Start with a Big Capital Letter
Rule 2: Stop with a Punctuation Mark
Core Formula
Part 1 + Part 2 = Complete Thought
CORE 1
WHO or WHAT
The subject running the mission.
• The jet
• The dog
• A brave kid
CORE 2
DOES WHAT
The action happening right now.
• can fly high.
• ran fast.
• wins the game.
Combine them: The jet can fly fast. (Complete sentence!)
Start & Stop Security
Never leave a sentence open
Start Rule
Capital Letter
The very first letter must always be big and tall. It powers on the engine!
the car is red. The car is red.
Stop Rule
Punctuation Mark
Tell the reader when the thought ends.
Telling a fact: . (Period)
Excited or loud: ! (Exclamation)
Asking something: ? (Question)
Say it loud: "Capital to launch, mark to land!"
Quick Build Sprint
Today's Writing Target
Pick One From Column A + Pick One From Column B
Column A: Who / What
1. The fast jet
2. A big dog
3. My best friend
Column B: Action
A. jumped up high.
B. can run fast.
C. will win the race.
Write your combined sentence on your workbook page now.
Remember: Capital + Period!
Sentence Power Workbook Apex Writing Lab Week 1 • Mission 01
Sentence Power Workbook
NAME:
DATE:
Part 1 (Who/What): Subject Hero
Part 2 (Action): What happens
DAY 1: Connect the Engine (5 Pairs) Draw a line from Who to Action
1. The fast jet
2. A big dog
3. My red van
4. The brave kid
5. That black cat
sat on the soft rug.
flew in the blue sky.
can run in the yard.
won the big race.
had a flat tire.
DAY 2: Fix the Start & Stop (Rewrite 4 Sentences) Add capital letter and period
1. the bus was late
2. a fox can run fast
3. sam lost his red pen
4. the pup sat on my lap
Word Vault (Level 1 Decodable) CVC & Sight Words
Heroes the man • a kid • the cat • a bot • the jet
Actions sat on • ran up • can see • got • flew
Objects / Places the box • the hill • the map • a hat • the sun
Apex Writing Lab • Week 1 • Page 2
DAY 3: Sentence Forge Laboratory
15-Minute Build Session
Supply the missing power core (Who or Action) to make each sentence complete. [ HERO + ACTION + . ]
1. Supply an Action : "The fast jet ________." Action Core Missing
2. Supply a Hero (Who) : "________ ran up the hill." Subject Core Missing
3. Supply an Action : "The little dog ________." Action Core Missing
4. Supply a Hero (Who) : "________ sat on the big red rug." Subject Core Missing
5. Independent Forge: Choose 1 Hero + 1 Action from your Word Vault Full Sentence
Day 3 Check: Did you put a period at the end of each line? [ ] 5 Periods Complete
Apex Writing Lab • Week 1 • Page 3
DAY 4: Double Sentence Mission Logs
15-Minute Combo Session
Writers combine multiple sentences to tell bigger stories. Write two complete, connected sentences for each mission scenario below.
MISSION LOG A: The Skateboard Pilot Prompt: "The kid on the board"
Sentence 1 (Who + What he has):
Sentence 2 (Action: What he does):
MISSION LOG B: The Sky Jet Flight Prompt: "The silver jet"
Sentence 1 (Who + Speed/Color):
Sentence 2 (Action: Where it flies):
Finger-Space Audit: Put your index finger between each word as you read aloud.
Quality Gate Passed
Apex Writing Lab • Week 1 • Page 4
DAY 5: Weekly Boss Challenge Showcase
Showcase & Assessment
Step 1: Visual Blueprint (Sketch or Map Your Hero & Action) Plan before you write
Step 2: Publish Your Power Sentences Write 2 high-impact sentences
Power Sentence 1:
Power Sentence 2:
Step 3: Pilot Self-Evaluation Badge
Big Capitals
Hero (Subject)
Action Verb
End Period (.)
Teacher Feedback:
Mission 01 Score: ___ / 10
Sentence Power Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Week 1 • Grade 7 Hi-Lo
Sentence Power Lesson Guide & Key
15 Min / Day
Core Instructional Scaffolding (Age 12-13 at Level 1)
1. Oral Rehearsal: Have student say the complete sentence twice out loud before writing a single letter.
2. Phonics Bridging: Point to CVC words in the bank. Prompt: "Sound out /j/-/e/-/t/. What word?"
3. Mature Framing: Praise architectural logic ("Great sentence engineering!"), never infant praise ("Good boy/girl").
15-Minute Daily Micro-Lesson Routine
Day & Focus Warm-Up (3 min) Direct Model (5 min) Independent & Exit (7 min)
Day 1: Engine Parts Review Slide 1: Who vs. Action Model Slide 2 matching with pointer Workbook P.1 Day 1 matching lines
Day 2: Start & Stop Quick flashcard: Capital vs lowercase Slide 3: Punctuation rules (. ! ?) Workbook P.1 Day 2 rewrite sentences
Day 3: Sentence Forge Chant: "Who does what!" Provide oral prompt; student picks action Workbook P.2 Day 3 fill-in sentences
Day 4: Two-Sentence Build Decodable Word Vault read-aloud Teacher writes Sentence 1 on dry-erase board Workbook P.2 Day 4 writes two full thoughts
Day 5: Boss Challenge Review 3-point checklist Slide 4 quick sprint challenge Workbook P.2 Day 5 write & self-score
Model Responses & Answer Key
Page 1 Answers:
Day 1 Matching: 1 → flew in the blue sky; 2 → can run in the yard; 3 → had a flat tire.Day 2 Fixes: 1. The bus was late.
2. A fox can run fast.
3. Sam lost his red pen.
Page 2 Model Exemplars:
Day 3: "The fast jet flew up high." / "The cat ran in the sun."Day 4: "A kid sat on the box." / "The man got a map."Day 5 Exemplar: "The jet can fly past the sun!" (Must have Capital T, period/exclamation, subject + verb).
Observation Focus: Finger spacing and letter baseline placement. Apex Writing Lab • Sequence Week 1
Story Beats Slides Apex Writing Lab • Week 2
15-Minute Mini-Lesson
MISSION 02
Story Beats: The 3-Step Arc
Great stories do not just stop and start. They move in three beats: First, Next, and Last.
1. Setup (First)
2. Action (Next)
3. Finish (Last)
The 3 Signal Words
Use these words to lead your reader
BEAT 1
First, ...
How does the adventure kick off?
"First, the boy got his bike."
BEAT 2
Next, ...
What trouble or move happens?
"Next, he went up a steep hill."
BEAT 3
Last, ...
How does it wrap up safely?
"Last, he made a big jump."
Notice: Put a small comma (,) right after First , Next , and Last !
Model Mission: The Drone Run
Read & Trace
BEAT 1
First, the drone flew high in the dark fog.
BEAT 2
Next, it saw a lost pup by the lake.
BEAT 3
Last, the crew brought the pup home safe.
Every beat tells one event in the timeline. 3 Sentences = 1 Full Mission Story!
Your Turn: Pick A Plot
15-Minute Creation
Plot Option A: The Skate Park
Tell how a skater practices a kick-flip, falls, and then sticks the landing.
Words: board, jump, drop, win
Plot Option B: The Robot Escape
Tell how a mini-bot unlocks a gate, rolls down a ramp, and finds the team.
Words: lock, run, ramp, free
Open your Week 2 Workbook to Page 1 and let's craft Beat 1! Say your sentence before you write.
Story Beats Workbook Apex Writing Lab Week 2 • Mission 02
Story Beats Workbook
NAME:
DATE:
1. First, The Beginning Setup
2. Next, The Action or Trouble
3. Last, The Safe Ending
DAY 1: Sequence Two Action Plots (Write 1, 2, or 3) Order each plot in timeline
Plot A: The Speed Boat
Last, the boat docked safe.
First, the pilot started the motor.
Next, it sped over huge waves.
Plot B: The Lost Dog
First, the pup ran out the gate.
Last, he got a warm dish of food.
Next, his pal saw him by the tree.
DAY 2: Write With Signal Words (Add Commas) Notice: First, Next, Last,
Beat 1: First, the drone flew high.
Beat 2: Next, it saw a lost pup.
Beat 3: Last, it brought the pup home.
Narrative Word Bank (Decodable Level 1) Sight & short-vowel words
Signals First, • Next, • Last, • Then,
Characters the bot • the kid • the pup • the man
Action Verbs flew • jumped • ran • lost • got • saw
Apex Writing Lab • Week 2 • Page 2
DAY 3: Narrative Workshop • Mission A (Skate Park)
15-Minute Draft
Mission Briefing: A skater drops into the ramp, attempts a high kick-flip trick, and lands cleanly!
3 BEATS
BEAT 1 (Beginning): The Setup Stem: First, the kid...
BEAT 2 (Middle): The Trick / Action Stem: Next, he jumped...
BEAT 3 (Ending): The Landing Stem: Last, he landed...
Vocabulary Bank: board • ramp • fast • spin • safe 3 Comma Checks Complete [ ]
Apex Writing Lab • Week 2 • Page 3
DAY 4: Narrative Workshop • Mission B (Robot Escape)
15-Minute Draft
Mission Briefing: A mini scout bot cracks a locked gate, rolls past a guard dog, and escapes safely to the team!
ACTION ARC
BEAT 1 (Beginning): Unlock the Gate Stem: First, the bot...
BEAT 2 (Middle): Danger / Escape Stem: Next, it rolled...
BEAT 3 (Ending): Team Rendezvous Stem: Last, it got...
Vocabulary Bank: lock • gate •
Story Beats Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Week 2 • Narrative Arc
Story Beats Lesson Guide & Key
15 Min / Day
Instructional Scaffolds for Micro-Narratives
1. Physical Gesturing: Pair "First" (point left), "Next" (point middle), "Last" (point right) to anchor chronological order.
2. Graphic Framing: Treat the 3 sentences as 3 comic panels. Encourage visualizing the "snapshot" before writing.
3. Decodable Word Stems: Ensure the student knows how to spell First, Next, Last; write them visibly on a dry-erase card.
15-Minute Daily Micro-Lesson Routine
Day & Focus Warm-Up (3 min) Direct Model (5 min) Independent & Exit (7 min)
Day 1: Chronology Slide 1: Three Story Beats intro Slide 2: First, Next, Last chant Workbook P.1 Day 1 sequence ordering (1,2,3)
Day 2: Trace & Model Slide 3: Drone Run read-aloud Notice comma rule after signal words Workbook P.1 Day 2 complete 3 sentences
Day 3: Pick & Launch Slide 4: Skater vs Robot plot pitch Student chooses topic & speaks Beat 1 Workbook P.2 Day 3 writes Beat 1 ("First, ...")
Day 4: Action & Climax Oral rehearse Beats 2 and 3 Teacher prompts: "What trouble or jump?" Workbook P.2 Day 4 writes Beat 2 & Beat 3
Day 5: Story Showcase Read whole 3-sentence story aloud Check for 3 capitals, 3 commas, 3 stops Workbook P.2 Day 5 Inspection Badge scoring
Model Responses & Key
Page 1 Key:
Day 1 Order: Box 1 (Last, the racer...) → 3
Box 2 (First, the black car...) → 1
Box 3 (Next, the driver hit...) → 2
Day 2 Copy Lines: Check that student copies with initial capital letter and end period.
Page 2 Model Exemplars:
Skater Plot: Bot Plot:
Focus: Transition words, punctuation, and clear linear sequence. Apex Writing Lab • Sequence Week 2
Fact Files Slides Apex Writing Lab • Week 3
15-Minute Mini-Lesson
MISSION 03
Fact Files: Real-World Reports
Informative writing shares real facts. You will write a 3-sentence dossier that teaches something true!
1. Topic: Name It
2. Fact 1: What It Has
3. Fact 2: What It Can Do
The 3-Sentence Fact Blueprint
Clear • True • Focused
SENTENCE 1
Topic Header
Tell what your dossier is about.
"The shark is a big sea hunter."
SENTENCE 2
Detail 1 (Feature)
Name a body part or tool it has.
"It has sharp, white teeth."
SENTENCE 3
Detail 2 (Power)
Tell what action or skill it can do.
"It can swim very fast."
Key Rule: Every sentence must start with a Capital and end with a Period (.) !
Fact Inspector Check
Real vs Made Up
REAL FACT
Something that is true in real life.
• "A rover has big wheels."
• "A shark can swim in deep water."
• "The sun gives hot light."
NOT A FACT (Fiction)
Made up or impossible in real life.
• "The shark can talk on a phone."
• "A rover loves eating pizza."
• "Dogs can fly to the moon."
In our Fact Files, we only write proven facts !
Select Your Research Topic
15-Minute Dossier
Topic A: Mars Rover
Sentence 1: A rover is a space car.
Sentence 2: It has six big wheels.
Sentence 3: It can take rocks on Mars.
Topic B: Great Shark
Sentence 1: The shark is a big fish.
Sentence 2: It has sharp teeth.
Sentence 3: It can hunt in the dark.
Open Week 3 Workbook Page 1 and let's verify facts! Say each fact out loud first.
Fact Files Workbook Apex Writing Lab Week 3 • Mission 03
Fact Files Workbook
NAME:
DATE:
1. Topic Header Name what it is
2. Feature Detail What does it have?
3. Power Detail What can it do?
DAY 1: Fact vs Fiction Audit (Check if TRUE) Audit all 6 statements
1. A shark can swim in salt water.
2. A rover eats pizza for lunch.
3. The rover has six metal wheels.
4. Fish can speak English to people.
5. The sun is a big, hot star.
6. Jet planes fly faster than cars.
DAY 2: Write With Fact Stems Notice: The... / It has... / It can...
Topic: The shark is a big fish.
Feature: It has sharp white teeth.
Power: It can hunt in the dark.
Dossier Word Vault (Level 1 Decodable) Science Vocabulary
Subjects the shark • a rover • the sun • a jet • a crab
Parts (It has...) big wheels • sharp teeth • wings • red rocks
Powers (It can...) swim fast • roll on rocks • climb hills • hunt
Apex Writing Lab • Week 3 • Page 2
DAY 3: Expository Dossier • Subject 01 (Great Shark)
15-Minute Dossier
Specimen Profile: Apex Ocean Predator • Habitat: Deep Salt Water • Diet: Fish and seals
OCEAN DOSSIER
SENTENCE 1: Topic Header (What is it?) Stem: The shark is...
SENTENCE 2: Feature Detail (What body part does it have?) Stem: It has...
SENTENCE 3: Power Detail (What action can it do?) Stem: It can...
Dossier Vocabulary: big • fish • sharp • teeth • swim • hunt 3 Real Facts Verified [ ]
Apex Writing Lab • Week 3 • Page 3
DAY 4: Expository Dossier • Subject 02 (Mars Rover)
15-Minute Dossier
Specimen Profile: Robotic Planetary Explorer • Mission: Explore Red Planet • Wheels: Six all-terrain
SPACE DOSSIER
SENTENCE 1: Topic Header (What is it?) Stem: The rover is...
SENTENCE 2: Feature Detail (What parts does it have?) Stem: It has...
SENTENCE 3: Power Detail (What action can it do?) Stem: It can...
Dossier Vocabulary: space •
Fact Files Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Week 3 • Expository Dossier
Fact Files Lesson Guide & Key
15 Min / Day
Non-Fiction Scaffolds for Older Struggling Readers
1. Sentence Stems as Scaffolding: Rely on "The ___ is a ___", "It has ___", and "It can ___" to relieve cognitive load.
2. Reality Testing: If the student invents fantasy facts, gently ask: "Could we see this in a photo or video?"
3. Pronoun Linking: Highlight that "It" in Sentences 2 & 3 points back to the hero subject in Sentence 1.
15-Minute Daily Micro-Lesson Routine
Day & Focus Warm-Up (3 min) Direct Model (5 min) Independent & Exit (7 min)
Day 1: Fact vs Fiction Slide 1: Fact Files mission launch Slide 3: Real vs made up examples Workbook P.1 Day 1 Fact check boxes
Day 2: Stem Mastery Slide 2: 3-Sentence blueprint Chant: "Topic, Feature, Power!" Workbook P.1 Day 2 trace & complete
Day 3: Topic Selection Slide 4: Mars Rover vs Shark pitch Model Topic Sentence on board Workbook P.2 Day 3 writes Topic Sentence
Day 4: Detail Sentences Review Word Bank feature words Teacher prompts: "What does it have / do?" Workbook P.2 Day 4 writes Sentences 2 & 3
Day 5: Fact Verification Student reads report like a news anchor Audit capitals, periods, and accuracy Workbook P.2 Day 5 Verification stamp
Model Responses & Answer Key
Page 1 Key:
Day 1 Fact Check: Statement 1 (Shark can swim...) → CHECKED [X] (Real)
Statement 2 (Rover plays games...) → UNCHECKED [ ] (Fiction)
Statement 3 (Rover six wheels...) → CHECKED [X] (Real)
Day 2 Fill: Verify correct end periods and capital letter starts.
Page 2 Model Exemplars:
Mars Rover Dossier: Great Shark Dossier:
Focus: Expository sentence architecture and real-world clarity. Apex Writing Lab • Sequence Week 3
Fixer Squad Slides Apex Writing Lab • Week 4
15-Minute Mini-Lesson
MISSION 04
Fixer Squad: The C.U.P.S. Protocol
Real writers never quit after draft one. They inspect every line for system bugs and upgrade their words!
C • Capital
U • Understand
P • Punctuation
S • Spacing
The 4 Security Checks
Scan each sentence 4 times
C
Capital Letters
Did you capitalize the first word and names?
U
Understand
Does it make complete sense? Does it have a hero + action?
P
Punctuation
Is there a period, exclamation point, or question mark at the end?
S
Spacing & Spelling
Leave one finger space between words. Check simple sounds.
Say it loud: "Check C-U-P-S before you publish!"
Live Bug Hunt
Find 3 Errors
Broken Sentence Bug Report:
the big jetcan fly
Bug 1: Capital
"the" → The
Bug 2: Space
"jetcan" → jet can
Bug 3: Stop
fly → fly.
Fixed System: "The big jet can fly."
Zero bugs remaining!
Upgrade: Add 1 Power Word
Sentence Booster
Basic Sentence:
"The dog ran."
Add 1 Detail (Color or Size):
"The black dog ran fast."
Color Boosters
red • blue • black • gold
Size Boosters
big • tiny • tall • huge
Speed Boosters
fast • quick • swift • slow
Open Week 4 Workbook to inspect and publish! Apply CUPS to every line.
Fixer Squad Workbook Apex Writing Lab Week 4 • Mission 04
Fixer Squad Workbook
NAME:
DATE:
C • Capital Big first letter
U • Understand Makes sense
P • Punctuation Stop mark (. ! ?)
S • Spacing Finger space
DAY 1: Fix the System Bugs (Rewrite 4 Broken Sentences) Apply C.U.P.S.
1. Buggy: the red jetcan fly
2. Buggy: sam saw a big fish
3. Buggy: the roverrolled on rocks
4. Buggy: first the bot ran away
DAY 2: Finger Space Calibration Insert [ / ] where space is missing
Mark the missing spaces: The/dog/can/run/fast/in/the/sun. 7 Spaces Verified [ ]
Power Booster Vault (Level 1 Decodable) Upgrade Words
Colors red • blue • black • gold • gray
Sizes big • tiny • tall • huge • mini
Speeds / Mood fast • quick • safe • glad • calm
Apex Writing Lab • Week 4 • Page 2
DAY 3: Sentence Booster Laboratory
15-Minute Upgrades
Upgrade each plain sentence by adding one descriptive power word (color, size, or speed). [ PLAIN → BOOSTED ]
1. Plain: "The van sped away." → Add a color word (red/black): Color Booster
2. Plain: "A dog jumped up." → Add a size word (big/tiny): Size Booster
3. Plain: "The jet flew high." → Add a speed word (fast/quick): Speed Booster
4. Plain: "The shark can swim." → Add size + speed: Double Booster
Day 3 Check: Did every upgraded sentence keep its Capital and Period? 4 Sentences Boosted [ ]
Apex Writing Lab • Week 4 • Page 3
DAY 4: Multi-Genre Polishing Workshop
15-Minute Polish
Polish three distinct genre lines before tomorrow's final showcase: a sentence core, a story beat, and a fact report.
GENRE 1: Sentence Engine Polish Fix C + P + Space
Draft: the black catgot fish
GENRE 2: Narrative Beat Polish Add Comma + Period
Draft: first the racerhit the gas
GENRE 3: Fact Dossier Polish Fix Capital + Reality Check
Draft: a rover has six strong wheels
All 3 genres polished: Sentence Power, Story Beats, Fact Files. Showcase Ready [ 100% ]
Apex Writing Lab • Week 4 • Page 4
DAY 5: September Master Writing Showcase
Fixer Squad Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Week 4 • Editing & Showcase
Fixer Squad Lesson Guide & Key
15 Min / Day
High-Impact Editing Coaching for Older Struggling Writers
1. One Pass Per Letter: Do not ask the student to look for all errors at once. Pass 1 = C, Pass 2 = U, Pass 3 = P, Pass 4 = S.
2. Highlighting Bugs: Use colored highlighters (e.g. green for capitals, yellow for spaces, red for end marks) to gamify debugging.
3. Dignity in Publishing: Celebrate the Showcase Card as a tangible middle school writing milestone.
15-Minute Daily Micro-Lesson Routine
Day & Focus Warm-Up (3 min) Direct Model (5 min) Independent & Exit (7 min)
Day 1: CUPS Protocol Slide 1: Fixer Squad launch Slide 2 & 3: Live Bug Hunt demo Workbook P.1 Day 1 rewrite buggy lines
Day 2: Word Boosters Slide 4: Booster word options Model adding 1 color/size adjective Workbook P.1 Day 2 expand 2 sentences
Day 3: Showcase Zone 1 Spiral review: Sentence Power Oral rehearsal of boosted sentence Workbook P.2 Day 3 writes Zone 1 sentence
Day 4: Showcase Zones 2 & 3 Review Story Beat & Fact Stem Teacher live-coaches transitions Workbook P.2 Day 4 completes Zones 2 & 3
Day 5: Final Evaluation Student conducts 4-pass CUPS audit Teacher verifies accuracy & handwriting Workbook P.2 Day 5 Seal & Certificate
Model Responses & September Evaluation Rubric
Page 1 Answers:
Day 1 Bug Fixes: Line 1: The red jet can fly. (C, space, period)
Line 2: Sam saw a big fish. (C, period)
Day 2 Boosters: "The black van sped away."
"A big dog jumped up."
Showcase Scoring (4 Points Total):
1 Pt: Capital letter starts every sentence.1 Pt: Legible finger spaces between all words.1 Pt: Accurate end punctuation (. ! ?).1 Pt: Complete subject + verb thought in all zones.
Unit Milestone: 4 weeks completed across Sentence, Narrative, Informative, and Editing. Apex Writing Lab • Sequence Week 4
