Writing Extension: The Acrostic Poem

Are there times when you wonder, “What is my child thinking?” Well, let me clarify. Are there times when you wonder, “What are my child’s thoughts on a particular topic?”  (Yes, that’s better phrasing.)

I find that this question usually hits me around the holidays. While the pageantry, hustle, and bustle of the holiday season surround us, I have a desire to know, and I have found a great way to “tune in” with acrostic poems.

In an acrostic poem, the letters that begin each line spell the subject of the poem. To write an acrostic poem, simply think of an event, person, animal, or thing to describe. Write the letters of your topic vertically. Beside each letter, write an adjective or short phrase that starts with that letter to describe the person or thing.

Here’s one example of an acrostic poem for Thanksgiving: