- Putting Your Thoughts on Paper: A Christmas Reindeer Visit
- 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.
- First: Every family member will need their right hand traced (upside down) on their journal page (older members should place their hand toward the bottom of the page; younger learners will place their hand in the blank space of their primary journals).
- Drafting responses: Allow each family member to write their “Reindeer Visit” story (10-20 min). Encourage the youngest members to draw their thoughts and assign someone to be their scribe.
- Finally: Discuss: Let each family member share their creation. Remind them that respectful listeners make eye contact with the person sharing without interrupting.
- Reading and Writing Connection: Meet the Author: Jan Brett: As an author, her storytelling craft is “honed” to perfection. As an artist, her illustrations are crafted to perfection… adding depth, cultural details, folkloric styling, and character strengths/weaknesses. She is known for her “extra” story lines are portrayed in the borders of each page. *Before the new year… take a trip to FVRL and check out books by Jan Brett! https://janbrett.com/bookstores/reindeer_book.htm
