Writing Journal Prompts for September
Recommended Grade Level:
Type of Resource: PDF
Number of Pages: 5
Coordinating Activities
Writing Journal Prompts for September
- Fall writing prompt cards, like “What is your favorite food made from apples? Why?” and “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
- Story starters, letter writing and how-to prompts
Cut the cards apart and pull one each day for journal writing.
Required Materials:
- Paper, printer and ink
- Laminator
- Paper cutter or scissors
- Journals or paper
Standards for Writing
These prompts support first and second grade writing standards connected to opinion and narrative writing.
Common Core State Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion and provide some sense of closure. Kids answer prompts like “What is your favorite season? Give 3 reasons why.”
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.3: Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order and provide some sense of closure. Kids write stories from the prompts.
Writing Journal Prompts for September give first and second grade kids a month of fall prompts for daily journal writing.
Prompts include favorite apple foods, a story that starts “One day at the apple orchard, Farmer Bill…,” a letter to a family member and how to play a favorite game.
Pull one card a day for morning work, or put the cards in a writing center so kids can choose.
How to Use Writing Journal Prompts for September
- Print, laminate and cut apart the cards.
- Pick a prompt for the day.
- Talk about the prompt together.
- Kids write in their journals.
- Kids share their writing.
Morning Work: Use one prompt each morning.
Writing Center: Let kids choose a card.
Easy Ways to Differentiate These Writing Prompts
Every group has a mix of reading and writing skills. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.
For Children Who Need More Support:
- Draw and label first.
- Dictate the answer.
- Use a word bank.
- Write one sentence.
For On-Level Practice:
- Write 3 or more sentences.
- Add a picture.
- Read your writing to a friend.
- Use a capital and a period.
For an Extra Challenge:
- Write a full page.
- Add details and feelings.
- Write a second prompt.
- Edit with a checklist.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:
- Read each part together and give plenty of wait time.
- Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
- Use the pictures to build vocabulary.
- Repeat the same activity across several days.
Writing Journal Prompts for September Are Perfect For:
- First grade
- Second grade
- Fall and back to school
- Morning work
- Writing centers
- Small-group instruction
- Special education
- ELL and multilingual learners
- Homeschool
