04 Writing in Journals

Page
30
from
Write One Student Handbook

Start-Up Activity

Read pages 30–31. Then explain how you will use journals in your classroom. Consider these features:

What the students’ journals should look like
How often they will write in them
What topics they should write about
What you expect in terms of length
How you will evaluate them*

Consider making journal writing a part of your regular classroom routine. For example, you could have students write entries every other day. Then on alternate days, they could exchange entries and/or share some of them with the class. But before students write their first entry, be sure to model journal writing for them. (Point out that their journal writing does not have to be perfect.)

*We recommend that students receive a performance/effort score for journal writing. (A sincere effort earns a high score.)

Enrichment Activity: With student input, generate (and display) a list of topics for journal writing. Also suggest that students write about the same topic for multiple entries if they have a lot to say about it.

Special Note: Journal writing helps student develop their writing fluency. Though ability levels may vary greatly at the start of the school year, most students have some knowledge of letter sounds and are able to approximate words. Expressing ideas freely is far more important than accurate spelling and punctuation.

Think About It

“Keep a diary. It’s a place to write things that happen, but also the kinds of feelings you are having.”

—Jean Fritz

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.5

30-31

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.1.W.2.5

30-31

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.3.b.11.C

30-31

Page 30-31 from Write One Student Handbook

Lesson Plan

Ask the children to brainstorm about things that interest them. Write their suggestions on chart paper or on the board. You can also have them write individual suggestions on "Ideas for My Journal." Talk about and list possible topics, such as family, friends, pets, and everyday events. Help the children realize they will get ideas as they listen to the suggestions of their classmates. Post the list in the classroom for children to refer to for future writing ideas.
Read page 30 in the handbook. Talk about how a picture can tell a story and how writing can explain a picture.

Classroom Applications

Large Group

Give each child a notebook to be used for daily journal writing. Emphasize that children can keep their journal notebook as a record of things they think and do.
Then brainstorm for interesting topics related to current classroom studies (a science topic, a favorite story or song). Use chart paper or the board to model writing a journal entry. Write the date in the upper right-hand corner. Invite children to offer their thoughts on the topic and write down three or four simple sentences, commenting on the process as you write.
Ask children to do illustrations for the journal entry. Mount the journal entry and the drawings on the bulletin board to remind children of the journal-writing process. (Most children will be ready to tackle independent journal writing almost immediately.)

Small Group

Encourage children to work in small groups as they begin their earliest journaling efforts. Invite them to talk about what they are thinking about and putting into words. Some children may wish to draw before they write. Others may prefer to make drawings after they finish writing. You may want to conference with these young writers by asking questions and commenting about their writing.
Use "Writing in Journals" on pages 60-61 in the Write One SkillsBook to help students write a first journal entry.

Individuals

Teachers, classroom aids, visiting adults, or older students could act as “scribes.” The scribe may take dictation, or simply pencil in words that are hard to decipher from the child’s invented spellings.

Note: Children can revisit journals to add details or pick up on a topic from one day to another.

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