Summer Journaling

Summer Journal Cover FREE Printable

I printed copies of journal covers, kids colored it, then we glued it down to construction paper.  We then stapled it to lined, newsprint pages to finish off our summer journal!

Creative Journal Prompts FREE Printable

Summer Journal Prompts FREE Printable

We’ve been enjoying our summer journaling time!  My kids love it so much that my 8-year-old daughter will come up with her own prompt and post it on our easel and her and the boys get right to journaling…without me!  It’s awesome!  That’s when modeling expectations, and routines payoff!  Here’s a peek into our daily journal time…

• The top prompt is for my 2nd grader, going into 3rd grade.  She is expected to write a few sentences explaining what and why, while also using proper grammar.  She can then draw a picture, if she’d like.  I then meet with her to check her work.  We talk about proper grammar as well as strategies for using words other than, “and, like, because, etc.” to try to push her to be a better writer.
• The middle prompt is for my Kinder, going into 1st grade.  He and I discuss what his favorite summer activity is.  I then write his prompt correctly for him on the easel so that he can copy it correctly in his journal.  He then is expected to write his own sentence describing why swimming is his favorite activity.  This is where he gets to practice sounding words out with independent writing practice.  Once he is finished he can then illustrate his picture.  We will then meet to discuss his sentences.  I help him with proper spelling and grammar while also praising his efforts.
• The bottom (is covered up in this picture by the journals) is for my Pre-K kiddo.  He and I talked about his 3 favorite summer activities.  In this instance he said, “swim, bikes, and cars.”  I wrote those 3 words on the easel for him so he could copy them in his journal.  He then drew his pictures to match his words.
  

Here is another example of our differentiated journal prompts:

Top- 3rd grade

Middle- 1st grade

Bottom- Pre-K

Here is my Pre-K kiddo copying his 3 words from the board.  As you can see we are working on the proper way to hold a pencil. 

Soon to be 1st grader writing his sentences! 

My big 3rd grader writes her sentences!  (You can see her previous journal entry on the opposite page that includes her illustration)

I try to keep this activity low stress and fun!  It is summer time after all!  I do LOVE that this type of activity helps prepare them for school in the fall.  I’ll also allow them to have some input as to what they want to write about.  This takes some of the pressure off of me as my “creative juices” are running dry late into this pregnancy!

I hope that your summer has been fun and you’ve enjoyed having your little ones home!  It goes by so fast!