What+is+Journal+Writing?

Journal writing is a learning tool based on the ideas that students write to learn. Students use the journals to write about topics of personal interest, to note their observations, to imagine, to wonder and to connect new information with things they already know. **What is its purpose? ** Using journals fosters learning in many ways. Students who use journals are actively engaged in their own learning and have the opportunity to clarify and reflect upon their thinking. When students write in journals, they can record such things as ideas and feelings, special words and expressions they have heard, interesting things that have happened to them or information about interesting people. Journal writing offers students opportunities to write without fear often associated with marking. Every journal entry is individualized. **How do I do it? ** Journals can be used throughout the day, at different times of the day and for different purposes. 1. Decide what type of journal you want to use in your classroom. Think about the purpose of the journal and how will you use it. 2. Prepare materials. Your students' journals may be looseleaf notebooks or folders. Individual pages should be contained in some way so that they are not lost over time. 3. Model initial entries. Using an overhead projector or classroom chart, work together to write a sample response. Students can copy the class response in their own journal or write one of their own. 4. Schedule time for regular journal use. Students are all engaged in the act of writing and this enables individuals to generate ideas, observations and emotions. ** [|Instructional Strategies Online] **
 * W ****hat is Journal Writing? **

// The use of various types of journals enables students to write their way into thoughtful reflection. Ask your students to keep a learning log in which they write one-liners or short paragraphs to record their understandings prior to or following the study of topic. They can also reflect on their learning processes. A two-column journal is another useful format: students record their understandings on the left and their feelings or questions on the right. // Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnel