This presentation was inspired through the work of Prof. Lil Brannon and her team through the book "Thinking Out Loud on Paper" - I have personally used their ideas to keep my own daybook and I have encouraged my students to do so for a couple of years while I was still teaching. This daybook worked out wonders. The children personalised it, loved writing and most of all loved getting feedback from everyone about their writing to further enhance their potential with regards to polishing their writing skills.

1. THE DAYBOOK
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

2. Thinking Out Loud on Paper
and not just that ...
Does that line go into
the daybook or not?
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

3. What is the Daybook?
 Let’s just consider it as “a kitchen drawer” :
 “A place where we stick everything that does not
yet have a place but we know that we might need
someday. “
Lil Brannon
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

4. What goes in a daybook then?
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pictures / photos
letters and notes
cut outs from newspapers / handouts
sticky notes with feedback comments
parts of stories
others’ stories
poems
ticket stubs
comics
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

5. any more ideas?
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postcards
topic ideas
wonderful words or phrases
favourite lines
advice
settings
character sketches
books I’ve read
lyrics of songs I like
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

6. Getting Organised ...
 “Students must always be able to find their
work when they need it.” Karen Haag
 That’s the reason why we create an INDEX in
every daybook ...
 Students can refer to what they’ve written
before – go back and forth – find ideas
they’ve written to jump start their writing.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

7. Owners of the Daybook
 “The daybook is your own private place
where to write badly.” Ralph Fletcher
 The daybook is yours to fill with whatever
stimulates you as a writer.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

8. A Tool to Foster Learning
and Enhance Creativity ...
Learning happens when :
•we are having fun.
•we feel involved.
•we work at our own pace.
•we struggle to find our feet.
•we grasp the key concepts through trial and error.
•we feel safe to express our own ideas.
•we feel safe to share and discuss those ideas.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

9. When I started to use the daybook ...
The daybook was just another great idea. I loved it from the very
first instant. I usually have loads of papers coming out of every
handbag or drawer I own. This was just a brilliant idea which I will
certainly adopt in my classes.
I think that this will work out fine with the children just like it did
with me just because it is a simple idea and at the same time a
great one. It reflects what we go through, what strikes us, how
we feel ....
It’s a diary but not a diary.
It’s a journal but not a journal.
It’s a book but not just any book.
It’ a daybook.
It’s MY Daybook!
Annabel Desira
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

10. Works of my students ...
Boy 1 read an article
on newspaper and
wrote a dialogue after
taking some details
from the article.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

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13. When will we be
writing in our daybook
again?
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

14. Let me read my writings ...
Please give me
feedback!
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

15. Golden Lines from Students ...
Taken from the book: “Thinking Out Loud on Paper” by Lil Brannon et. al
 Daybooks make writing, thinking and learning
enjoyable.
 The Daybook rocks!
 Daybooks help generate ideas and thinking.
 Daybooks keep us organised.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

16. Reflection on the use of the daybook ...
 Boys! It’s not a diary but of course you can add
anything you want in it ...
 It is the perfect place where to write anything you
feel like writing and there’s no need to worry about
mistakes because the daybook is only the “process
book of thoughts”
 Of course, we can all think whatever we like. The
trick lies in phrasing our thoughts. Voicing our
thoughts may be a headache sometimes because we
might be afraid of other people’s reaction but the
daybook is a safe place where to write whatever we
think.
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

17.  It is private when we want it to be and it’s like a
box where we can collect our precious things.
 At first, we start thinking : what’s next if this is a
rough draft?
 And what about our spelling mistakes?
 Can we really write anything we feel and want?
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

18. There’s just one answer for all this ...
 Start writing in your daybook and you’ll see ...
 That what comes out of it floats like a
butterfly and stings like a bee...
I’m your daybook – please do share your
thoughts with me!
Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008