introduction to journal-writing

1. What is Journal Writing all
about?

2. What is journal writing
you ask…
It is a learning tool
based on the idea
that you write to
learn.

3. You can use the journals to
write about topics of personal
interest, to note your
observations, to imagine, to
wonder and to connect new
information with things you
already know.

4. They are not diary entries
without reflection or a
purpose. A diary is a record
of actions or what you have
done.

5. A journal is a record of
reactions. A journal is
mostly about your ideas,
thoughts, dreams and
opinions.

6. What is its purpose?
Using journals helps learning
When you use journals you have
the opportunity to clarify and
reflect upon your thinking.

7. You can record such things as
ideas and feelings, special words
and expressions you have heard,
interesting things that have
happened to you or information
about interesting people

8. There are several types of
journals
Personal Journals
These journals allow the freedom to
write about your feelings, opinions,
expressions and about topics of
personal interest.

9. Dialogue Journals
 These journals are conversations in
writing. Most often the conversation is
between the student and the teacher or
classmates.
These journals are interactive - the two
conversation partners comment on one
another's entries. These conversations
encourage people to express
themselves in thoughtful and informal
ways.

10. Reading Response Journals
 These journals are used to capture
your reactions to books and to track
your reading.
The entries might include questions,
comparisons, evaluations, letters to
characters, predictions and comments
on style or mood.

11. Math Journals
The goal of writing in mathematics is to
provide you with opportunities to
explain your thinking about
mathematical ideas and then to re-
examine your thoughts by reviewing
your writing.
Writing will help your understanding of
math as you learn to ‘talk’ about your
thought processes in solving problems
and learning math concepts.

12. Science Journals
 These journals could be a great way
to gain a better understanding on how
you are thinking about the science
lesson.
You can write questions about process
or outcomes of explorations. They can
use drawings, diagrams, data charts
and graphs.

13. Art Journals
 The art journal gives you a place
to plan, to gather resources and
research materials, to do
preliminary drawings and to
experiment with media; in short,
to explore and document your
personal creative processes.

14. Our Learning Journals
We are learning to use journals that
show our new understandings,
knowledge and ideas.

15. How should I write?
Write informally. Informal writing
is rather like speaking.
Don't worry too much about
'correct' punctuation, or grammar,
or spelling. BUT this is not an
excuse to be careless.

16. You can use underlining, or bold,
or italics to add meaning, and you
may link lots of ideas together with
dashes instead of full stops and
commas.

17. The journal also allows you to
experiment as a writer. Sometimes
a poem or a dialogue where you
argue or debate with yourself is
the only way to express an idea.

18. Draw a detailed picture one day.
Take a risk!

19. Prompts
 Think of the subjects
Look at the timetable on the board
Mind gym
What was the first thing we did today?
What do I now know about journal writing?
What strategies do I now know to try for
problem solving?
The 100 game - how to win.