- 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).
