This journal booklet, is a great initiative to replace Parking Lot Corner in classroom.Why? Because it is more personal, pupils have the power to write everything in this journal (even it is a secret) and no other pupils will be able to read, therefore avoiding mocking and develop self-confident among those who are pretty reserved and shy in the classroom. Beside, most teachers don't really understand the purpose of parking lots and I hope this helps, and pupils can't really write their feelings because if the idea where other pupils might read them (privacy issues). Apart from that, this journal booklet comes with Student-Teacher Agreement form that will make the pupils feel more in charge and have the authority of themselves.
Read 5 reasons to write journal below to understand why journal writing is good for your children. This journal is structured and guided and pupils can either write or sketch their feelings or what they've learnt that day. Teachers don't evaluate or marks this journal, but rather get insight of what their pupils think or feel. Click on pictures of Journal For Boys or Girls to download - Cover just to differentiate, but content is the same.
Journal for Boys
Journal For Girls
5 REASONS TO WRITE IN JOURNALS
Builds Student Confidence
• Struggling writers absolutely must have opportunities to build their confidence in their writing skills. If they are assessed on every piece they write, they won't want to take risks.
• Don't we want our students to apply what we teach them? Of course, and they need practice time without recrimination. Present a mini-lesson on one specific skill before you begin your writing sessions, encourage the students to apply the skill, and then step back and allow them to try.
• Research shows it takes at least 28 repetitions of a concept or skill before it is actually solidified in the brain.
Allows the Teacher to Gain Student Insight
• Teachers can learn much about their students' development as writers, the stages of spelling they are in and are able to pinpoint weaker areas students may need mini-lessons on.
• As well, a journal is often the only place some children will reveal their thoughts, feelings and opinions about what really matters to them.
• This emotional connection is not to be taken lightly or overlooked as it can be the foundational building block for meeting the needs of certain students.
A Safe Haven for Beginning Writers
• Even non-writers can journal through drawing. Young students can illustrate their responses to prompts and try using labels to show what is happening. After drawing, a teacher can write down what the child tells him or her about the picture.
• Students who are just beginning to gain confidence in writing sentences know a journal is a safe place to try new ideas, apply learned spelling strategies and be able to "mess up" without it counting against them.
Indirect Growth in Grammar and Mechanics
• By going back and re-reading previous entries, students can begin to self-diagnose their writing skills. They tend to notice their own errors and begin applying new strategies and rules.
• The more this is done, the more of a habit it becomes. Of course, if you see a student consistently making the same error, you need to intervene and provide some quick, targeted mini-lessons.
Helps Some Students to Deal with Issues
• By paying attention to what is written in a journal, teachers can be more aware of what is really happening outside of school to our students.
• Journal writing is cathartic, and often a student will write about something he or she would never say. Getting it on paper alone is very helpful, but for some issues it may be the only warning sign we get that a student needs help.
