D is for the Dear Ones

Welcome to my 2020 Blogging A-Z April Challenge. Each day, I will post a brief Journal On! Daily Writers’ Workshops lesson and prompt. Teachers, parents, and students may use the material to encourage daily writing practice, spark insight, and embrace mindful reflection.   

Welcome back, Everyone. How are you holding up during this pause, shelter-in-place initiative? It is important to stay at home, refrain from physical contact, and flatten that COVID-19 bug curve.  

In the meantime, we must remain in our own homes. Thankfully, we have technology. Zoom, Skype, FaceTime enable us to see others outside our front door. Somehow, though, it’s not quite the same. We miss greeting friends and family with hugs, playing together, eating, and laughing with each other. We miss our dear ones.

Today we are going to write about a person you miss while we are restricted to our homes. Think about a person you usually see almost every day. Is it a teacher, classmate, co-worker,youtube grandparent, or perhaps your babysitter.

I miss a lot of people—my grandkids, daughters, and friends. I also miss those I don’t know too well like the crossing guard I wave to each morning and the barista at the coffee shop. Places feel empty without familiar faces in their regular spots. Let’s write about the dear ones who fill our spaces and are close to our hearts.

Write the date on the first line.

1. Primary Prompt:  Draw a picture of you with the person you miss. Is this person a teacher or best friend are you outside playing or inside sharing a snack, reading or singing. Label you, the person and the place you are in together. Add details, such as hair, clothing, and the things around you. Write a sentence or two about the picture. You can start with I miss… Now write a detail about how this person is dear to you. I miss my best friend, Tyler. We play on the rock wall.  I miss the lunch lady, Mrs. Smith. She makes the best tacos.
2. Intermediate Prompt: Who is the person you miss? How often did you see this person before the shelter-in-place order? Describe what is special about this person. Are you able to keep in touch now that everyone must stay at home?—email, talking on the phone?
3. Upper-Intermediate Prompt: Who is the person you miss? What makes this person exceptional. Write about a story or adventure you had with this person that shows how important he or she is to you.

Until tomorrow, Everyone.

Journal On!