Brandi's Place

Today is the first day of fall! Who is ready for pumpkin pies and pumpkin spiced lattes and pumpkin scented candles and pumpkin... Okay, you get the idea, I love pumpkin EVERYTHING! To celebrate the autumnal equinox today, I have a new illustrated poem for you called "I Love Fall". Text I Love Fall by Brandi Peterson authorbrandipeterson.blogspot.com Whether you’re tall, Or whether you’re small, Everyone can appreciate the season of fall. The leaves change their lovely hues, As trees begin the season’s snooze. The squirrels scurry to collect their seeds, To store them up for winter feeds. The mums burst with blooms so bright, To paint the hillside, a dazzling sight! Momma makes some pumpkin pie. She loves fall, and so do I! If you enjoy my poems, you'll LOVE my book! Pona and the Valiant Veterinarian is now available on Amazon!  Click the image below to see a preview of the book on Amazon.

Every new story begins with a brain storm ! Today we are going to brain storm an idea for a brand new story. Have your student start with a blank sheet of notebook paper, label it “setting”. Number the paper one through three on the side leaving at least three lines in between. Older students may want to write down more ideas and increase the amount of space needed for writing. Directions for the student: #1- Describe a place you have visited before and might like to write a story about. #2- Describe a place you want to visit but have never been to and you want to write a story about what that might be like. #3- Describe a fantasy place that exists only in your own imagination! Now it is time to populate your story with interesting characters. Get out a clean sheet of paper, or flip your current paper over. Label this paper “characters”. Again, number the paper 1-3 with a few lines in between. Directions for the student: #1 – Name and give a litt...

I don't usually post mid-week. But I was just reflecting today on what happened on this day 17 years ago and decided to write it all out because, well, that's what I do. So here is my 9-11 memory. If you have a memory, I would really like to read it and experience with you everything you went through. Please leave a comment with your 9-11 memory or link to where you have it typed somewhere. This is why writing was invented, so that people could share with one another. Please share with me. Everyone remembers where they were when the terrorist attack happened on 9-11. I too remember. I was in jr. high, first hour, in the choir room at Moore West Jr. High when the first plane struck. An announcement came over the intercom that teachers were allowed and encouraged to turn on the news if they happen to have a TV or radio in the room as there had just been a plane that had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, I do not think it was known at the time that it...

  In honor of Grandparent's Day, I have a written a poem dedicated to grandparents everywhere! Text Grandparents That Fill Us by Brandi Peterson We’re headed to Grandpa and Grandma’s place I cannot wait to arrive They’ll greet me with a warm embrace Before we go inside. Grandma will have fresh cookies waiting there on the table. Grandpa will have fresh “dad jokes” Or he’ll tell me a silly fable. We might play our favorite games like checkers or dominoes Or just listen to the summer rain On the porch while swinging slow. Whatever we do together, our visits are always special For I’ve noticed that by the time we part Their love has filled my vessel. Wishing everyone a fun and happy day with their grandmas and grandpas. May your day be filled with love and sunshine! Did you make a craft, write a poem, or find a special way to celebrate Grandparent's Day? Tell me about it in the comments! If you enjoy my poem...

This creative writing activity employs the use of the creative writing process in order for your student(s) to create a story. All of my writing activities are appropriate for use either in a classroom setting or in a homeschool setting usually at the elementary school level but could be easily adjusted for older students. As a refresher, here is a graphic to remind you how to progress through the 5 steps of the creative writing process.  Okay, today we are going to have your student write a story about a valiant knight. Note: if your student is a girl, it is important not to change this assignment to say “princess” or something with a female character. Children can learn even more by writing about a character that is not exactly like them. We can do a project with a female character on a different day for which it will be important that boy children participate equally with girls. Here is your writing prompt: The main character is a valiant (brave) knig...