Journal Writing with Students Tonja L. Root, Ed.D. Early Childhood & Reading Education Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 2 Purposes for Journal Writing 4 Share experiences 4 Explore thinking 4 Personalize learning 4 Develop interpretations 4 Wonder and predict 4 Engage the imagination

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 3 Purposes for Journal Writing 4 Develop independent thinkers 4 Develop creative thinkers 4 Process for discovery & clarification of ideas 4 Build trust, acceptance, appreciation of different opinions 4 Learn that writing is thinking 4 Expose them to others' thinking

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 4 Types of Journals & Trade Books

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 5 Personal Journals 4 Students write about self- selected topics of personal interest.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 6 Personal Journals 4 Private: Sharing journals is voluntary. or 4 Monitored: Teacher checks to ensure that entries have been made but does not read unless entries are marked, "Read me." or

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 7 Personal Journals (cont.) 4 Shared Journals: Teacher reads all entries except those marked "private," & offers encouragement & suggestions.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 8 Trade Books: Personal Journals 4 Baer, E. (1990). This is the way we go to school: A book about children around the world. New York: Scholastic. 4 Cheltenham Elementary School kindergarteners. (1991). We are all alike…we are all different. New York: Scholastic.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 9 Trade Books: Personal Journals 4 dePaola, T. (1996). The baby sister. New York: Scholastic. 4 Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. New York: Scholastic. 4 Katz, K. (1999). The colors of us. New York: Henry Holt.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 10 Trade Books: Personal Journals 4 Krensky, S. (1998). Arthur and the lost diary. New York: Little, Brown and Company.  Moss, M. (1995). Amelia’s notebook. Berkeley: Tricycle. 4 Moss, M. (1996). Amelia writes again. Berkeley: Tricycle.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 11 Your Turn 4 As an example of a personal journal entry, write a few sentences that you could share with students.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 12 Home-School Connection Journals 4 Students take turns taking home a journal in which a family member may write something about the child &/or the family. 4 Student returns the journal to school the next day. 4 Teacher reads the entry to the class (if the student is unable to).

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 13 Home-School Connection Journals (cont.) 4 Students take turns writing about school experiences, events, assignments, &/or programs. 4 Students take the journal home to share with family members.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 14 Home-School Connection Journals (cont.) 4 Family member(s) may respond in writing to the entry. 4 Students return journal to school next day for another student to take home. 4 Entries may be shared with the entire class.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 15 Home-School Connection Journals (cont.) 4 Serves as an alternative or supplement to a classroom newsletter. 4 Family members have an opportunity to view school from their child’s perspective & other children’s perspectives.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 16 Home-School Connection Journals (cont.) 4 Family has an opportunity to respond to whatever the child writes. 4 Suggestion: Have several circulating in the classroom simultaneously: Family could read an entry every week. 4 Entries do not need to be lengthy.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 17 Trade Books: Content of Home- School Connection Journals 4 Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. New York: Scholastic. 4 Pelegrini, N. (1991). Families are different. New York: Scholastic.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 18 Reading Journals 4 Students respond to stories and poems. 4 Entries may be shared with classmates.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 19 Double-entry Reading Journals 4 A type of reading log. 4 Students write quotes from a story in left column. 4 They relate each quote to their own life & other literature read in the right column.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 20 Dialogue Journals 4 Students write entries to share with teacher or classmate. 4 The receiver reads & responds. 4 Entries are written like a conversation.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 21 Professional Resource: Journaling 4 Bromley, K. (1993). Journaling: Engagements in reading, writing, and thinking. New York: Scholastic.

ad7140/journal_writing.htm 22 Journal Writing: Summary 4 There are many types of journals. 4 Purpose & variety are the key to a balanced writing program involving journal writing.

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