Lesson 4: Using Journals and Review
Over the years, my use of journals evolved from a simple "write in your journal" prompt, to using the journal as a brainstorming and "thought-keeping" tool in almost all subject areas. More than just a place to write, my students used their journals as focused journals, content area journals, learning logs, and literature response logs. In this section of the course I'll share some of these ways I have used journals in my classroom. There are many, and they are all valid.
Thoughts on Journals
Different from a traditional diary, a journal can be used not only to record thoughts and feelings, but it can also be a place to practice poetry, description, dialog, and any other form of writing your students may wish to try. It can be used as brainstorming tool, to record ideas about a story that was read, an idea in a subject area, or as a learning log. The journals in my classroom were often a combination of all of those, and more.
For younger children, a picture and a sentence or two may be appropriate. For older children, you may want to set a goal of a page or two a day. Teachers may also want to start a class journal. Using a nice big notebook, begin by writing an introduction to the class. Each night, allow one student to take the journal home and write in it. As students fill the journal, they will enjoy reading what others have written and will look forward to their next turns to write. Be sure to take a turn in it every couple of weeks, too.
Both Regie Routman in Invitations and Nancie Atwell in In the Middle have excellent sections on using journals. If you are using either of these books, check the course bibliography section for more details.
