Journey to Journaling

What did you do over summer vacation?

Tired of reading the same old story? Journal writing is a good exercise for students, but so often in the classroom, the excercise becomes tedious for students and teachers who grow tired of coming up with creative topics [and also the teacher who grows weary of grading and correcting numerous entries.] However, there are some "tried and true" techniques (pardon the alliteration) that can keep the journal writing experience positive for both the teacher and the students. . .

Writing Down the Days by Lorraine M. Dahlstrom
available at Amazon.com. Price: $10.36

Synopsis
This paperback book offers a year's worth of fresh and innovative creative writing assignments, one for each day of the year, making it an excellent resource for use in the classroom, home school, or at home. Each assigment features a person, fact, or event that gives special meaning to the day. The activities work well with a cross-curriculum approach since many of the entries center around historical events. Use them chronologically, or pick and choose.

OTHER JOURNALING BOOKS TO TRY:

Doing the Days : A Year's Worth of Creative Journaling, Drawing, Listening, Reading, Thinking, Arts & Crafts Activities for Ages 8-12 by Lorraine M. Dahlstrom
Loose Ends, A Journaling Tool for Tying up the Incomplete Details of your Life and your Heart by Eldonna Bouton

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O.K., ideas for topics are now plentiful, but how can a teacher manage journal writing within an existing curriculum that most likely leaves little room for extra activities? Well, one idea is to write in the journals only on particular days rather than have the students write daily entries. If a teacher is particularly strapped for time, the entries can be a once or twice a week event. The most logical way is to incorporate the activity into the existing curriculum. For example, in a literature course, have the students write about stories and poems they have read. By doing this, students often come up with interesting ideas to fuel in-class discussions. Or, have the learners write on essay topics that will later be incorporated on the exam.

Often, it is less difficult to find time to fit journaling into the first semester, when grammar is typically being taught in the traditional classroom. However, students and teachers often find a lack of "deep" topics to write about. Try using one of the above mentioned source books for entries with pizazz all year long!

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