Journal Activity for "Ten Apples Up On Top by Theo. LeSieg (Dr. Seuss)

On my last post I included a journal writing activity for "Ten Apples Up On Top!" My grandson, Michael (4 1/2 ), accommodated my request to write a journal entry using the procedure I used when I taught Kindergarten. In this instance Michael said he wanted to draw a picture of himself with 4 apples on top of his head. He drew the picture and then he said what he wanted to write - "4 apples on top".
We then said that together and I held up my fingers to count each word he said - 4 words - thus we made 4 lines - one line for each word. As Michael wrote the words he used his sounds and words he already knew to write. Some letters are missing in the words and that is fine - even if he had only the first and last letters in a word that would be fine. Here is the sequence of his writing:

Step 1 - Michael's drawing









Step 2 -4 lines and beginning to write the words










Step 3 - completing the word "top"










Step 4 - touch pointing each word as he reads the sentence










Step 5 Pride of accomplishment! Thank you Michael