Visit http://www.berkeleyprep.org/lower/fourth/writing/if_only.htm
Click on the link for the If Only Poem. There is an example If Only poem and directions for writing one. Think of the poems we created together. Refer to our charts of descriptive words, special people, wishes, and similies to help you.
Your Task: Write an If Only poem for your chapbook.
Teach a mini-lesson with students explaining how to write this form of poetry. Create charts and write sample poems together. The mini-lesson can be taught in the writer's workshop portion of class. Students will need to visit the computer for a short while to read the directions and see the example poem provided. Then, they may return to the classroom to work. Instruct students to keep poems in their poetry folders. As poems are completed, have students add the title of the new poem to a table of contents.
Click the pencil to return to the process page.
