response journals content areas topics for writing personal writing

Response JournalsContent Areas

Topics for Writing

Personal Writing

Integrating Reading and Writing

Reader's Response

Response Journals - MaterialsMaterials in creating a reading response

journal:Assigned or chosen text: literature or

informational, paper or online, emagazines such as Time for Kids, eNational Geographic for Kids

Notebook, ejournal, graphic organizer, paper

Sticky notes, Word highlighting function

Reader’s Response: Co-creating CriteriaTeacher think aloud: use a poem or song lyric,

write quote on one side, respond on the other side

Together create criteria:What do you notice about reader’s response?What would make it a powerful reader’s response?Create a T-Chart: listing criteria on the left side

and examples or details on the right side (see example)

Teacher keeps in mind the criteria from the BC Quickscale for Personal and Impromptu Writing

Create a self assessment form

Criteria

Criteria

Double Entry Journal (Adam #1)

Double Entry Journal (Adam #2)

Reflection PromptsStudents can choose a quotation and respond to itTeachers can provide a prompt that helps students

to reflect on the reading process in general, which helps students to develop metacognition (thinking about your thinking)

Teachers can provide a prompt that helps students to reflect upon how various authors use literary elements such as ‘theme’, ‘metaphor’ etc. (see handout)

When students write to explain their thinking and provide examples or proof, that will help them achieve the standards based on the BC Performance Standards for Personal Writing, by integrating writing and reading

Prompts to focus on reading processIs what you are

reading challenging you in any way? What way?

What is puzzling you as you are reading?

What questions are being raised by what you are reading?

What connections can you make between the book and your life?

BloggingEdublog.orgMoodleStudents respond

online and others can read and respond to their entries

Literature Circles Online

Miley Cyrus: The Climb

Informational Personal ResponseUsing journals in

the content areas is a way to reinforce concepts students are learning.

Teachers also gain insight into students’ understanding of the concepts being taught.

KWL ChartThreaded Journa l

Carousel: prompt question about content, each student responds, then moves on, reads the previous and makes another response

Simulated Journals: Pretend you’re a character from history, pretend you are a cell, pretend you are a tsunami

KWL Chart: Underground RailwayWHAT I KNOW WANT TO LEARN LEARNED

•Trail from US to Canada•Slaves from the Southern US hid and travelled into Canada to be free•People helped them along the way

•Where the trail actually went•Some of the key people and what they looked like•Did any get caught?•What happened to the black people who made it to Canada? Did they see their families again?

I learned that the Underground Railway was an important part of Canadian history. It is piece of our heritage that we can be proud of as we stood against racism. I learned about some of the families, specific people in our history who helped the slaves escape to freedom. I learned that a few people who believe in a cause can and do make a big difference.

Threaded Journal CarouselWhat’s the most important thing to remember

about the rainforest?The rainforest has many animals and plants that are not found

anywhere else. The trees in the rainforest give off tons of oxygen. The plants in the rainforest have different medicines in them.

There are tribes of people in the rainforest that are losing their homes because of logging. I believe that it is good that the villagers have found a way to make money for their families but there needs to be rules.

The rainforest is unique and is a huge area. The Amazon River is the longest river in the world. The fresh water is needed by the people of South America. They use it for power, for drinking, for transportation and for fishing.

The rainforest helps our earth to stay healthy. The oxygen that is given off by all the trees in the canopy help to balance the carbon dioxide in the air from human pollution.

Threaded Journal CarouselPrompt: Describe the most vivid “first day

of school” memory you have.

Personal JournalsEjournals

Topics

Personal Writing Motivation

Why keep a journal?Different than a diary – less on what happens but

more your reaction to what happens in your lifeA place to dream, imagine, vent and to figure

things outThe primary rule for keeping a journal is that you

write honestly – record observations, work out worries, indulge ideas and write, write, write

Students can choose entries to share for feedback or journals can be a conversation between student and teacher about the topic

Teachers gain insight and understandingStudents become better writers

Prompts for Personal ResponseJournal JumpstartsToni’s List of

Websites

What does freedom mean to you?

Should little kids be allowed to get dirty? Why or why not?

What kind of parent would you be?

What makes people popular?

Describe the best teacher in the world.

Heart MappingMaterials: outline of a heartDraw a map of the contents of your heart: all the

things that really matterOur hearts are crowded with memories: people,

places, moments, experiencesPrompt: What has stayed in your heart? What

memories, moments, people, animals, objects, places, books, fears, scars, friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, teachers, other people, journeys, secrets, dreams, crushes, relationships, comforts, learning experiences? What’s at the centre? What’s at the edges? What’s in your heart?

HEART MAPPING: FOLLOW UPFollow up lesson Follow up assignment The next day ask students

to gather in small groups, with pencils and writing paper

Teach one another about what has stayed in their hearts

Purpose of sharing is to listen for new inspirations, record new ideas for writing on your topic list

Whip Around: What’s something that stayed in your heart that surprised you?

Choose one topic you’re excited about

Create an Inspirations web

Allow your memory to come forward and WRITE

Edit for description/voice to bring it all alive

Table Tennis, Sour Patch Kids, Emerald Memories

Math PromptsSee folder for ideas

Reflection