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Journal Writing with ChildrenTonja L. Root, Ed.D.
Early Childhood & Reading Education
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698-0092
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Purposes for Journal Writing
Record experiencesStimulate interest in a topicExplore thinkingPersonalize learningDevelop interpretationsWonder, predict, hypothesizeEngage the imagination
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Purposes for Journal WritingDevelop independent thinkersDevelop creative thinkersProcess for discovery &
clarification of ideasBuild trust, acceptance,
appreciation of different opinionsLearn that writing is thinking Expose them to others' thinking
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Types of Journals &Trade Books
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Personal Journals Students write about self-
selected topics of personal interest.
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Personal Journals Private: Sharing journals is
voluntary. orMonitored: Teacher checks to
ensure that entries have been made but does not read unless entries are marked, "Read me." or
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Personal Journals (cont.)
Shared Journals: Teacher reads all entries except those marked "private," & offers encouragement & suggestions.
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Trade Books: Personal Journals
Curtis, J.L. (1993). When I was little. New York: Scholastic.
Garrison, J., & Tubesing, A. (1996). A million visions of peace. New York: Scholastic.
Moss, M. (1995). Amelia’s notebook. Berkeley: Tricycle.
Moss, M. (1996). Amelia writes again. Berkeley: Tricycle.
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Trade Books: Content of Personal Journals
Baer, E. (1990). This is the way we go to school: A book about children around the world. New York: Scholastic.
Cheltenham Elementary School kindergarteners. (1991). We are all alike…we are all different. New York: Scholastic.
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Trade Books: Content of Personal Journals
Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. New York: Scholastic.
Katz, K. (1999). The colors of us. New York: Henry Holt.
Krensky, S. (1998). Arthur and the lost diary. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
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Trade Books: Content of Personal Journals
dePaola, T. (1996). The baby sister. New York: Scholastic.
Rogers, J. (1993). Best friends sleep over. New York: Scholastic.
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Your Turn
As an example of a personal journal entry, write a few sentences that you could share with students.
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Home-School Connection Journals
Students take turns writing about school experiences, events, assignments, &/or programs.
Students take turns taking home the journal to share with family.
Family member(s) may respond in writing to the entry.
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Home-School Connection JournalsA family member may write
something about the child &/or the family, as appropriate.
Student returns the journal to school the next day for another student to take home.
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Home-School Connection JournalsEntries may be shared with the
entire class. Teacher may read the entry to the class (if the student is unable to).
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Home-School Connection JournalsServes as an alternative or
supplement to a classroom newsletter.
Family members have an opportunity to view school from their child’s perspective & other children’s perspectives.
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Home-School Connection JournalsFamily has an opportunity to
respond to whatever the child writes.
Suggestion: Have several circulating in the classroom simultaneously: Family could read an entry every week.
Entries do not need to be lengthy.
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Trade Books: Content of Home- School Connection Journals
Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. New York: Scholastic.
Pelegrini, N. (1991). Families are different. New York: Scholastic.
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Travel JournalsStudents take turns taking home
a bag that contains a stuffed animal, journal, travel brochures, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, colored paper, glue, & other art supplies.
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Travel Journals (cont.)
At home the child decides where the stuffed animal visits, writes a story about the visit, & illustrates the story using the art materials.
Student returns the journal to school the next day for another student to take home.
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Travel Journals (cont.)
Entries may be shared with the entire class.
This would be an ideal way to inform family members of places nearby that could be visited on weekends.
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Trade Books: Travel Journals
Krull, K. (1997). Wish you were here: Emily”s guide to the 50 states. New York: Doubleday.
Moss, M. (1997). Amelia hits the road. Berkeley: Tricycle.
McNally, R. (2000). Safari across America: A travel journal. New York: Rand McNally.
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Your Turn
As an example of a travel journal entry, write a few sentences that you could share with students.
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Simulated Journals
Students assume role of a historical personality or book character, & write entries from that person's viewpoint.
Entries are shared with classmates.
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Trade Books: Simulated Journals
Waters, K. (1996). On the Mayflower: Voyage of the ship’s apprentice & a passenger girl. New York: Scholastic.
Blos, J. (1979). A gathering of days: A New England girl’s journal. New York: Scribner’s.
Moss, M. (1998). Rachel’s Journal: The story of a pioneer girl. New York: Scholastic.
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Trade Books: Simulated Journals
Hopkinson, D. (1997). Birdie’s lighthouse. New York: Atheneum.
Bierman, C. (1998). Journey to Ellis Island. Toronto: Madison Press.
Moss, M. (2001). Rose’s Journal: The story of a girl in the Great Depression. New York: Scholastic.
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Trade Books: Simulated Journals
Roop, P., & Roop, C. (1990). I, Columbus: My journal, 1492-1493. New York: Walker.
Dyson, J. (1991). Westward with Columbus. New York: Scholastic.
Conrad, P. (1991). Pedro’s journal: A voyage with Christopher Columbus, August 3, 1492-February 14, 1493. New York: Scholastic.
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Trade Books: Content of Simulated Journals
Waters, K. (1993). Samuel Eaton’s day: A day in the life of a Pilgrim boy. New York: Scholastic.
Waters, K. (1989). Sarah Morton’s day: A day in the life of a Pilgrim girl. New York: Scholastic.
Waters, K. (1996). Tapenum’s day: A Wampanoag Indian boy in pilgrim times. New York: Scholastic.
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Learning Journals
Students write about content of subjects learned.
Young children may use both developmental spelling & words/sentences.
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Trade Books: Learning Journals
Cole, S. (1999). Walking with dinosaurs: Photo journal. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
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Professional Resource: Learning Journals
Popp, M.S. (1997). Learning journals in the k-8 classroom: Exploring ideas and information in the content areas. Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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Your Turn
As an example of a learning journal entry, write a few sentences that you could share with students.
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Reading Journals
Students respond to stories, poems, informational books.
Entries may be shared with classmates.
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Double-entry Reading JournalsA type of reading log.Students write quotes from a
story in left column.They relate each quote to their
own life & other literature read in the right column.
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Dialogue Journals
Students write entries to share with teacher or classmate.
The receiver reads & responds.Entries are written like a
conversation.
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Writing Notebooks
Students make notes & write lists of useful information about writing & other language arts in writing notebooks.
Students refer to information as needed.
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Project Journals
Students record ongoing work on projects: planning, organizing, & accomplishments.
Teacher checks journals to determine progress.
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Class Logs
Students take turns recording assignments, class notes, & other information from each class to file in a notebook.
Serves as a record of actual lessons.
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Professional Resource: JournalingBromley, K. (1993).
Journaling: Engagements in reading, writing, and thinking. New York: Scholastic.
Parsons, L. (2001). Response journals revisited: Maximizing learning through reading, writing, viewing, discussing, and thinking. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.
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Professional Resource: Journaling
Popp, M. S. (1997). Learning journals in the K-8 classroom: Exploring ideas and information in the content areas. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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Journal Writing: Summary
There are many types of journals.
Purpose & variety are the key to a balanced writing program involving journal writing.
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