September Journal

SOLs: Writing
2.12 The student will write stories, letters, and simple explanations.
a) Generate ideas before writing.
b) Organize writing to include a beginning, middle, and end for narrative and
expository writing.
c) Expand writing to include descriptive detail.
d) Revise writing for clarity.
2.13 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling.
a) Recognize and use complete sentences.
b) Use and punctuate declarative, interrogative, and exclamatory sentences.
c) Capitalize all proper nouns and the word I.
d) Use singular and plural nouns and pronouns.
e) Use apostrophes in contractions and possessives.
f) Use contractions and singular possessives.
g) Use knowledge of simple abbreviations.
h) Use correct spelling for commonly used sight words, including compound
words and regular plurals.
i) Use commas in the salutation and closing of a letter.
j) Use verbs and adjectives correctly in sentences.

Materials Needed:
Lined paper stapled together
Optional: the beginning of each piece of lined paper has the start of a sentence
for the prompt of that entry
Ex:
On the first day of school.
The best part of school is
My best friend is
I want to learn all about
I love reading
When I first wake up...

Preparation/Introduction/Implementation
Just like the butterfly journal, the students have already begun adding entries to their
September journal. The entry they do next is not their first
Because they already have their journals, preparation is handing them out to students
Tell students that the next entry they will do will be on the page with the prompt My best
friend is, which is the next blank page of their journals
Brainstorm example sentences or ideas of what they could write in their journals as a
class
What is your best friends name?
What do you do with your best friend?
 What do you like about your best friend?
How did you meet your best friend?
Do you see your best friend a lot?
After brainstorming, students will begin writing five sentences in their journal
Remind students to capitalize the beginnings of their sentences, end their sentences
with a period, and write neatly

Closure
When students are finished writing in their journals, they can color the pictures in the
border around their lined paper
After students have completed writing and coloring, they may work on any make-up work
they may have or read quietly at their desks