- Putting Your Thoughts on Paper: Back to school…
- Gathering materials: family learning journals, pencils, colored pencils, crayons
- Remind them to open their journals to the next available page and date it. Don’t forget to have them label the top of the page with today’s learning topic/skill.
- Reading and Writing Connection: Take turns reading and discussing the poems from the slide above. Invite someone to create a word list from the poems: “Today, you will be drafting a “Back to School” poem. Let’s create a “word list” that we could use for our poetry draft.”
- Next: add other summer terms that might be used. Guide: Whether in poetry or prose, strong word choice can unlock images, emotions, and more in the reader, and the readers personal connections with the writer’s word choice, take a moment to discuss how an author weaves words together to create a picture within their reader’s mind.
- Spelling: School terms: pencils; crayons; books; paper; lunches; playtime; recess; teacher; Principal; Library; art; drawing; sketching; scissors; bathroom; markers; backpack; notebook. Adjectives: fancy; dull; bright; fearless; determined; faint; harsh; quick; careful; amusing; excited; brave; delightful; massive; teeny; grumpy; clever; confusing; nervous; steep; super; or careful.
- Drafting responses: Allow each family member to write their thoughts (10 min). Encourage the youngest members to draw their thoughts and assign someone to be their scribe. Guide: Remind them to add their own back to school doodles as a border around their poem (slide below).
