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14 Writing in Journals and Learning Logs

Page
107
from
All Write

Writing in Journals and Learning Logs Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

Journal writing gives students a chance to practice a key writing skill: fluency. Read and discuss the chapter-opening page. Emphasize the fact that in order to improve as writers, students must first feel comfortable with the physical act of composing. Journal writing helps them develop this comfort.

But also know that for some English Language Learners, journal writing can create something that educator Carol Archer calls “culture bumps.” They may have trouble seeing the value of such loosely structured writing. For these students, it will be best to supply them specific writing prompts, at least at the start.

As an activity, provide students with the bulleted prompt (or one of your choosing) and ask them to write freely about it. Make sure they know the activity won't be graded. 

  • Something that is giving me trouble in school is . . . 

Think About It

“Regular notebook writing acts as a wakeup call, a daily reminder to keep all your senses alert.”

—Ralph Fletcher

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.10

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.6.W.4.10

LAFS.7.W.4.10

LAFS.8.W.4.10

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.22.b.10

110.22.b.11

110.22.b.12

110.23.b.10

110.23.b.11

110.24.b.10

110.24.b.11

110.24.b.12

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 108 from All Write

Starting a Journal

Review the steps students can follow to start their journal writing. If you want to make journal writing a classroom activity, here is a strategy that works well:

  • Every other day, have students write in their journal notebooks for the first 10-15 minutes of the class period.
  • On the opposite days, have students share their entries with a classmate. Readers should underline one thing that they like in each other’s writing.
  • Also have students count the number of words they write. Over time, their word count (and writing fluency) should increase.
  • At some point, have students select one of their entries to develop into a narrative or essay.
Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.4.10
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11, 110.22.b.12
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.g, LA 6.2.2

Related Resource Tags

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Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Personal Writing
Form:
Journal
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 109 from All Write

Types of Journals

Review the different types of journals: dialogue journals, reader-response journals, special-event journals, and diaries. Ask for a volunteer to read the entry at the bottom of the page. Discuss the writer’s topic and the thoughts that she includes. Then ask students to write a 5-minute journal entry about one of their own school-related experiences.

At different points during the school year, consider having students try some of these different types. For example, if your students are reading a classroom novel, have them keep a reader-response journal during their reading. 

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.4.10
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11, 110.22.b.12
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.g, LA 6.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Personal Writing
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 110 from All Write

Types of Journals (Continued)

Ask for a volunteer to read the dialogue journal entries on this page. Encourage students to find a writing partner for a dialogue journal or assign partners yourself. Then have students write and exchange journal entries about a topic related to their current coursework. 

Related Resource Tags

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Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Personal Writing
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 111 from All Write

Keeping a Learning Log

Read and discuss page 111, which introduces students to learning logs. Point out that keeping a learning log is similar to keeping a personal journal; the main difference is that in a learning log the writing topics are the subjects students are studying. Consider having your students experiment with some of writing-to-learn activities featured on this page. Also consider the accompanying minilessons.

Related Minilesson:

Related Resource Tags

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Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 112 from All Write

Example Log Writing

Ask for a volunteer to read the learning log entry on this page. Point out how the student writer sets up the entry (with date, topic, etc.), lists key terms, explores his or her thoughts about the topic, and includes a drawing.

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
English Language Arts:
Writing