the daybook - what it is? how we make use of it?

THE DAYBOOK

Presentation prepared by Annabel Desira - November 2008

Thinking Out Loud on Paper and not just that ...

Does that line go into the daybook or not?


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


What goes in a daybook then?

pictures / photos

letters and notes

cut outs from newspapers / handouts

sticky notes with feedback comments

parts of stories

others’ stories

poems

ticket stubs

comics


any more ideas?

postcards

topic ideas

wonderful words or phrases

favourite lines

advice

settings

character sketches

books I’ve read

lyrics of songs I like


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.


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.


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.

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


Works of my students ...


Boy 1 read an article on newspaper and

wrote a dialogue after taking some details

from the article.


When will we be writing in our daybook

again?


Let me read my writings ... Please give me feedback!

Golden Lines from Students ...

Daybooks make writing, thinking and learning enjoyable.

The Daybook rocks!

Daybooks help generate ideas and thinking.

Daybooks keep us organised.


Taken from the book: “Thinking Out Loud on Paper” by Lil Brannon et. al

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.


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?


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!

the daybook - what it is? how we make use of it?

Education