Teaching Your Child To Write About Current Events

Capturing current events when they happen has always been big news and is kept for historical documentation. Teaching your child the importance of documenting important current events can help them grow in many ways. With the world in a state of panic and slight uncertain times due to the coronavirus, you can be part of a milestone in your child’s learning by helping them keep a current events journal.

Most schools are now closed for spring break at this time. It was almost perfect timing that officials were able to add additional time off from school to help control the spread of the virus. With school closures now everywhere, schools and parents are having their own learning curve on how to help kids keep up with school work.

Hopefully, in most, if not all, school staff were instructed to send the students home with most of their school supplies.

I have seen many virus memes circulating through social media since the coronavirus has made its way to the United States. Since schools have closed, funny school memes are taking the place of toilet paper jokes. Some parents joke about how their first day of “homeschooling” has gone and parents are at a loss of becoming the teacher. I know as a mother, any extra time with my son is always cherished.

However, for those parents taking an opportunity to teach their children from a homeschooling manner, one life lesson can be given, and that’s the importance of journaling.

I used to be a huge fan of journaling when my passion for dreaming took over for my main journal subject. But as I wash the pandemic continue, and see kids off from school, it reminded me of the time when 911 happened. 

Most everyone reading this article will never forget that day. What you were doing and how you felt when 911 happened. Since hearing about the towers being hit, I still recall almost every detail of the day.

Unlike the virus today, our school was not canceled for the day of the terrorist attack. Our teachers decided not to conduct lessons as even they were in shock of the news.

In English class, with no school work, we were free to roam the halls and hang out. My friends and I wandered off into the library and noticed a TV on, showing the news. They were replaying footage of the towers being hit. At the moment when I witnessed the attack, my hands cupped my mouth as all I could do was gasp in disbelief. Our teacher passed by and called us back to class. It was surreal taking in such a large scale terror attack at my young age.

It wasn’t until my yearbook class in the afternoon that I received a new perspective. I didn’t realize how thoughtful and smart our teacher was until he decided to give an important life lesson that day. He was not going to teach the normal curriculum but asked each of us to take out a sheet of paper and pen. Once everyone had their paper on their desks, he gave a serious speech:

Today is a very sad day, but a very important one. Since this is the yearbook class, it’s your job to document what happens throughout the year, to look back on in the future. As you know, the United States has come under attack. Today I want you to sit quietly and listen to the radio and take notes on everything you hear. This paper is going to capture this time in history and I want you to save it.

He walked over to his small boom box, put on talk radio, and walked to his desk with his head down. I watched every movement as if it were in slow motion as he walked and still seeing flashes of the planes hit from earlier in the library.

When I came too, I tunned into the news and listened before writing. They were playing audio from live interviews of witnesses and other new reporters.

I finally snapped out of the visuals I was getting and started writing what I heard. To this day, I still have the paper. 

It will be forever a moment that I will no doubt be thankful for my yearbook teacher given us that task of documenting history. 

We can not go through life as if we are seated on the roller coaster. Just like the real ride, you have to walk through the park to get to the next ride, and in the meantime, enjoy the rest of the parks’ decor. To reflect on life like this, you can begin to start to see the purpose you have in life and how you can enjoy it too.

Life is not always easy, and moments in time of terror or disease, you must reflect on humanity and those close to you.

That’s why journaling today’s virus is a great homeschooling tool. 

Already stories of children being fearful due to most media created fear are surfacing, help teach them that this is only another moment in history for change and reflection.

Each age and grade level, this journal assignment can be tailored to their understanding, as well as their experience so far. 

Here are some ideas of writing prompts for different ages:

Elementary: 

• Draw and color a picture of the virus. 
• Write out what symptoms to look for.
• How to stay clean from catching and spreading the virus.
• What foods can boost your immune system to stay healthy?

Middle school:

• Draw and color a picture of the virus. 
• Write out what symptoms to look for.
• How to stay clean from catching and spreading the virus.
• What foods can boost your immune system to stay healthy?
• Research and write about countries where the virus first started.
• Research and write about when the virus first came to the United States(or your country)
• Research and write about the steps and actions your state has taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Include names and dates. Site your news/research sources. 
• Research and write about the steps and actions of your local county/city/town has taken to prevent the spread of the virus. 
• Write about when your school first announced the closure and the student’s reactions.
• Write about you and your friend’s reactions to having no school.
• Write about what homework/classwork/sporting practice-games were changed due to school closure.
• Write about your thoughts and feeling about the virus.
• Write about your friend’s thoughts and feelings about the virus.
• Write about a shopping experience with your parents since the grocery stores have begun to sell out of products. 
• Write about the food supply you have at home and how recipes may have changed, for better or worse.

High school:

• Draw and color a picture of the virus. 
• Write out what symptoms to look for.
• How to stay clean from catching and spreading the virus.
• What foods can boost your immune system to stay healthy?
• Research and write about countries where the virus first started.
• Research and write about when the virus first came to the United States(or your country)
• Research and write about the steps and actions your state has taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Include names and dates. Site your news/research sources. 
• Research and write about the steps and actions of your local county/city/town has taken to prevent the spread of the virus. 
• Write about when your school first announced the closure and the student’s reactions.
• Write about you and your friend’s reactions to having no school.
• Write about what homework/classwork/sporting practice-games were changed due to school closure.
• Write about your thoughts and feeling about the virus.
• Write about your friend’s thoughts and feelings about the virus.
• Write about a shopping experience with your parents since the grocery stores have begun to sell out of products. 
• Write about the food supply you have at home and how recipes may have changed, for better or worse.
• Write about changes in hanging out with friends.
• If you are a senior, write about rumors you’re hearing about tests, graduation, and college acceptance policies. 
• Write about if your family bonding changed for the better or worse. 
• Write about other family members: elders, siblings, family functions, state of health, etc. 

Of course, this is not a complete list of possible things to write about concerning the virus. 

How often should I journal about the virus?

We are approaching close to a month since US news of the virus began affecting our daily living. And things are changing fast in regards to our leaders and officials on how to handle it. I think that it would be wise to write daily-or Monday through Friday like a normal school week. Feelings and activities change now almost by the hour, so staying on top of what’s current, will make for more effective writing, thinking and record keeping.

What type of journal should I use?

At this time, it would be wise to stay home as much as possible, so writing your journal entry would be okay on just a sheet of paper if you don’t have a journal or spiral notebook. Later you may feel creative to hole punch and use string or ribbon to tie it together or place in a binder if a journal or notebook is not available.

You will get a feel for how your child writes, if they prefer to write more than a page of each topic, so don’t limit the page count.

No matter the age, I’m sure taking an artistic approach may be just as appealing for cover design or page design.

Wishing you and yours a healthy and safe day!

~Cassie