1. Using the DLLP with Dialogue Journals

2. The Dialogue Journal - What is it?
It is any kind of bound notebook where students and teachers correspond with one another over a period of time.
I write the first journal for the year, welcoming students and asking general questions about their interests and goals, their country or culture, or previous school experiences.
Students are free to write about any topic they choose, but some may need additional support to decide on topics about which to write.

3. TASK Locate the journal entry that corresponds to your letter.
Read the journal entry and
Decide which language feature needs attention
Identify a language feature that is used skillfully, if any
Using the rubric (see handout), identify the language status of the student for one of the language features you identified
Discuss findings as a group.
DLLP Language Feature
1. Sophistication of Topic Vocabulary
2. Sophistication of Verb Forms
3. Expansion of Word Groups
4. Sophistication of Sentence Structure
5. Stamina
6. Coherence/Cohesion
7. Establishment of Advanced Relationships
Between Ideas

4. Integrating DLLP with the Dialogue Journal: A Work in Progress
DLLP Language Feature
1. Sophistication of Topic Vocabulary
2. Sophistication of Verb Forms
3. Expansion of Word Groups
4. Sophistication of Sentence Structure
5. Stamina
6. Coherence/Cohesion
7. Establishment of Advanced Relationships
Between Ideas
Journal Entry D
B (two entries) X
A (two entries), E
C (compare two entries) F

5. Challenges of the Dialogue Journal
Responding to every student in a very large class, or in multiple classes, can be overwhelming.
Students do not respond punctually/faithfully.
Students have occasionally “lost” notebooks.
Other challenges?

6. How Dialogue Journals Can Support ELs
Teachers can
Use DLLP as formative assessment
Individualize instruction and feedback
Differentiate according to where a student’s “language learning lies on the continuum” (Chang et. al. 76)
Model the targeted language feature in the teacher's response
Facilitate writing fluency by establishing a routine with writing journals
Discover students’ funds of knowledge
Develop and strengthen student relationships by getting to know a student well.
I dialogue journals!