An Afternoon in the Forest

In January, in an effort to keep M engaged in school (boredom - or at least the expression of it - has been an issue), his 3rd grade teacher and I decided to have him keep a writing journal. In this journal he would write a story, a little bit every day.

We chose the writing approach as it was the one area she thought he could use some work. His writing at school had been very succinct, almost to the point of terse. It was fine, but it wasn't what she thought it could be.

We had a little issue with the journal in early February. One night he lied about having completed his daily writing. That was no fun to address, but we did. Since then, though, he has been consistent about his writing and says I get to read his story "soon."

This afternoon, M brought home this writing assignment, unrelated to his writing journal. It is written in very neat cursive.


An Afternoon in the Forest
by M

The treetops are dark green with light gently pouring in between them. There are olive green grape vines with shiny purple grapes on them. The tree trunks are light brown in color. There is a hole in one of them; an owl lives there. The grass is all the shades of green. There is a stump in the middle of the grass. And the air is crisp with a hint of grape.


I think the writing journal has done its work.