Friday, September 22, 2017

New Take on Journaling

I live in South Florida and we certainly felt the weight of this hurricane season.  Our stores, restaurants and even gasoline stations are still not completely re-stocked.  It's sad going into the supermarkets and seeing empty produce and meat shelves.  Most shutters are all down, some people keep them up just in case. Debris is cleaned up and placed in our front yards waiting to be picked up.  School is back in session, people are getting back to their regular routines. But, we're different somehow.   

Interestingly, I was looking forward to getting back to school.  
I couldn't wait to hear all my kids' individual hurricane stories and, honestly, just getting back to my regular routine.  

During the week our schools were closed, I worked at home trying to get myself together so that when I arrived back I wouldn't be disoriented.  I watched lots of YouTube videos and got mountains of inspiration.  Thank you, YouTube teachers.
Here are some of my favorites:

One Fab Teacher
Pocketful of Primary
Real Rap With the Reynolds
The Lettered Classroom

New Take on Journal Writing

Bell work in my class is always either Just Read or Just Write.  
Just Read is a school-wide initiative where students read for 20 uninterrupted minutes in the morning when they arrive at their first-hour class.  That takes care of first period.  
For the following periods, we Just Write.  


Just Write Journals are, of course, composition books.  
One year I had students decorate their composition books. 
It was fun, but it took too much time and money.  
Now we just decorate with stickers earned and headbands.

New Journal Themes

When I first started journals with my kids I would scrounge around for interesting topics.  Students would randomly write ideas centered around any given topic. I always felt there was something missing and this format wasn't much of a benefit.  Yes, it had them writing, but very little effort was required.

Now, we have a new plan.

 Each day of the week has a theme and a task.  
Themes and tasks focus on a particular text structure.  
This year, I have four themes for each day of the week to keep the kids from getting bored with the same theme from week to week.

We don't write on Mondays because we're in the Computer Lab all day completing our computer learning obligations. 
Themes begin on Tuesday.  Tuesday has two themes. The first is:


On Tuesdays, we PLAN OUR WEEK.  
After students write their agenda items and attendance has been taken, we take out our This Week's Work packet and discuss what we are doing for that week, the standards and strategies we will focus on and assignments to be completed and turned in the following Monday.

We also update our Just Write Journal Table of Contents and prepare our headings and pages for the week's journal entries. Each entry has a number, a date, a theme, a topic and a task. We discuss our themes, topics and tasks to make sure everyone understands the vocabulary and expectations.  

Once we have prepared our journal pages, students choose the entry of most interest to them, we put on the timer and students add one entry.  The following days, students begin writing during bell work while I take care of housekeeping duties.  I don't need to explain because we already discussed expectations at Tuesday's Pow-Wow.  If a student was absent, one of my student leaders helps me to fill them in.  If another student is struggling with the task, again, one of my student leaders helps me out. 

Tuesday's Writing Themes:

Type of Writing:  Argumentative 
Topics:  2 opposing ideas (Teacher or Student Choice)
Task:  Choose and defend their position


Type of Writing:  Informative/Explanatory
Topics:  Current Event (World, Community, Family, Personal)
Task:  Answer - Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?


Type of Writing:  List
Topics:  Talent, Skill, Hobby, etc. (Student Choice)
Task:  Ideas that would help a novice learner


Type of Writing:  Problem and Solution
Topics:  Problem (Student or Teacher Choice)             
Task:  Define/describe the problem and offer logical ideas for a positive solution

Type of Writing:  Personal or Imaginary Narrative
Topic:  Humorous or Exaggerated Event
Task:  Tell the story referencing the narrative elements

Type of Writing:  Reflective Summary
Topic:  Growth Mindset
Task:  Read a short story, fable or folktale.  Reflect on how character attitudes begin and change.  Identify with the character and draw conclusions of lessons learned.

Type of Writing:  Cause & Effect
Topics:  Situations, Occurrences, Events, Actions
Task:  Describe the event.  Share what the causes are and what the outcomes are.  Reflect on benefits and consequences.

Type of Writing:  Research
Topic:  An unknown subject or question - Student Choice
Task:  Research information through the internet, books, people and document findings and conclusions


Type of Writing:  List
Topics:  "Currently" - Student Choice
Task:  Write a list of all of the reasons to be thankful 
(This prompt is not limited to November writing.)


Type of Writing:  Personal Narrative
Topic:  A memory or flashback
Task:  Re-tell the story using narrative elements


Type of Writing:  Informative/Explanatory
Topic:  Universal Ideas, Trends, Social Media, Pop Culture
Task:  Share how these ideas have influenced their personal lives or the lives of others


Type of Writing:  Persuasive/Argumentative
Topic:  Personal or Public Opinion (Teacher/Student Choice)
Task:  Choose personal preference. Argue against counterclaim.  Make recommendations.

Free Day - No Writing

Type of Writing:  End of Week Exit Ticket
Topic:  Week of Learning
Task:  What I learned?  What is still confusing? Ideas for teacher, rate the teacher, recommendations, etc.

Type of Writing:  Personal - Informative
Topic:  Personal Feelings, Opinions, Concerns, Shout-Outs
Task:  Share personal feelings and or thoughts

Then, of course, who doesn't love Fun Friday?  

Type of Writing:  Writing for Fun
Fun Topics:  Our Faves! 
Music, Sports, Food, Places, Games, etc.
Fun Task:  Draw a poster, Draw Doodles, Lettering, Scrapbooking, etc.
Fun Place:  Outside under a tree, 
by the school track, 
in the school courtyard,  
in the dark with flashlights, 
with music in the background, 
in alternative seating,
etc.


Hoping you were able to get some new ideas for your journaling format.  If you have more ideas, please share.  

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks again for the visit. :)