Erin Dealey

Starting the new year with words!

Use this acrostic pattern for a quick write or warm-up, a prompt or just a fun poem.

Writing level may vary. I’d recommend grades 2 and up, but you may have some awesome K-1’s, or you could do it in a group. I’ve used it with ELL , middle school, high school and the results are always different.  Just keep the mindset that There are no wrong answers, as long as they complete the pattern. (You’ll see what I mean below.)

Get started: on the left side of the paper–or in the middle if they choose (It’s easier.), have students write  2012*2013 vertically, like this:

2

o

1

2

*

2

0

1

3

*Variation: Students who  need more of a challenge may write : (vertically–as above) B Y E  2012 H I 2 o 1 3 ; or try BYE 2012 WELCOME 2013.

Numbers can be used as letters or even words as in the poems below. Instruct students to end the poem with either one new year’s resolution or three wishes. Here are some examples:

2 WRITE THIS POEM

0N THE FIRST DAY BACK

1 LINE AT A TIME HELPS YOU

2 THINK OF WHAT TO SAY NEXT.

*

2 WAYS TO END THE POEM:

0NCE YOU GET TO THIS PART, WRITE

1 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION OR

3 WISHES FOR 2013.

Example 2:

We went 2 my grandma’s

0n New Years

My sister tried 1 sip of champagne

and wanted 2 throw up.

*

In 2013, I want 2 be happy.

I wish f0r peace

and every1 gets along.

These are my 3 wishes for

2013.

Example 3:

2 MINUTES

0 IDEAS

1 KID (ME) TRYING

2 WRITE.

*

2ND STANZA

0K, MY

1 RESOLUTION IS TO WRITE

3 MORE WORDS.

Overachiever example: (Gotta love ’em! Well,  tolerate and nurture anyway…)

Before New

Year’s

Eve, I wanted

2 be with my friends

0nly

1 friend went skiing

2 friends got mad

Which made New Year’s

Eve very

Lonely.

Can’t everyone get along for

Once?

My new year’s resolution is for

Everyone

2 smile more

0 (zero) fights

1 big happy family with my

3 best friends.

That’s it. I’m guessing you’ve done acrostics many times before. But this one nudges at least some of your students to reflect on the past year, and the one in front of them.

Happy writing in 2013!