1. Call me, AJ! WHAT’S MY PURPOSE ?
That’s short for Academic Journal. I’m here to help you get
organized! Use me to take notes in class and to keep track of I want my student learners to . . .
your thinking. Keep up with me and be sure to take notes
and write down information in class because you can use me on • develop a rich word bank
tests and quizzes! • develop a sense of word play
• practice a variety of word attack
Divide AJ into these sections using dividers or strategies
sticky notes: • feel safer during tests (less test anxiety)
1. Vocabulary - about 30 pages • internalize how to prepare for tests
2. Class Notes - about 30 pages • practice a variety of writing strategies:
3. Strategies - about 30 pages pre-writing, brainstorming, outlining, etc.
4. Reflections - last 5 pages • internalize a variety of note taking skills
• What am I learning? (list) • develop a sense of discovery
• What have I learned? (list) • note and practice reading strategies
Clip and Paste in the front cover of your AJ!
5. Books I Have Read (list) - last two pages • build a strategies reference bank for
themselves
Here’s a little more about what to write in each section: • write, write, and write some more
Vocabulary • develop writing fluency
word of the day notes • practice self-assessment and self-
word storms questioning
language collections • practice recording their own learning
vocabatoons
word wall notes HOW DO I ASSESS STUDENTS?
When I look at students’ AJs, I . .
Class Notes
• notes or writings about the • notice what they do spontaneously.
books we read Do they spontaneously write down
• notes about grammar or writing headings for their notes?
• think writes
• notes on MLA format & citing sources Or do I need review organization tips.
• any notes that give you information
Do they write in “note shorthand”?
Strategies
• any notes that tell you how to do Or do I need to scaffold their note
something taking by color coding what I put up for
• notes on how to visualize what you read them?
or how to connect to what you read
• notes on reading strategies (predictions, DO they refer to their AJs for answers?
questions, connections, etc) Or are they still dependent upon me?
• notes on writing strategies (brainstorming,
selecting a topic, generating material, etc) • look for patterns.
What kinds of notes/words are they
Reflections actually writing down?
• Dear Mrs. S letters about what you What more do they need?
have learned Are they reading different genres?
• your thinking about your progress Are they able to write about their own
• two lists: What am I learning? and What have I learned? learning?
Do they use the language of the state
Books I Have Read standards in their reflections? What
• Keep a running list of all the books kinds of “teacher-language” have they
that you finish reading on your own this school internalized?
year. Remember my expectation is 25 books
for the year!
What can you include in
an Acadmemic Journal?
© Adapted from Janet Allen by Lee Ann Spillane