Second Grade ELA Writing Strategies | Time Order Words

What are time order words?

Time order words show the order of events in a story. They help the reader understand what happened first, next, then, and last.

Examples:

“First we ate breakfast. Next we got dressed. Then we went to school. Finally we played at recess.”
“Yesterday I baked cookies. First I mixed the dough. Then I put the cookies in the oven. Last I ate one—it was yummy!”

Helpful hint

Think: “What happened first? What happened next? What happened last?” Use words to show the order.

Time order words make stories clear. Without them, the reader may not know the order of events. With them, the story flows smoothly.

Example Sentences:

No time words: “I brushed my teeth. I woke up. I ate breakfast.” (confusing)
With time words: “First I woke up. Next I brushed my teeth. Then I ate breakfast.” (clear)

Helpful hint

Always check: Does my story make sense in order?

Writers use special words to show order. Some of the most common are:

Time Order Words List:

Helpful hint

Use more than one time order word in your story to guide your reader.

Good narrative writing tells events in the order they happened. Time order words make your story easy to follow and fun to read.

Examples:

“On Saturday I went swimming. First I put on my swimsuit. Next I jumped into the pool. Then I splashed with my friends. Finally I dried off with a towel.”
“Last night I made a sandwich. First I got the bread. Then I added peanut butter and jelly. After that I cut the sandwich in half. Last, I ate it.”

Helpful hint

Remember: Time order words are like signposts that show your reader where the story is going.