{"id":658,"date":"2010-01-03T15:36:41","date_gmt":"2010-01-03T22:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/?p=658"},"modified":"2015-09-07T13:17:39","modified_gmt":"2015-09-07T20:17:39","slug":"abandoned-journals-in-the-elementary-and-middle-school-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/abandoned-journals-in-the-elementary-and-middle-school-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Abandoned Journals in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the history of humankind, few ventures have been started and abandoned with such persistency and consistency as the journal. I think the elementary and middle school classroom is where this habit begins, and then with each new year, with each new journal, a commitment is made that this time will be different. Here is how it all begins:<\/p>\n

Having read a fantastic new book on using journals in the classroom over the summer, the teacher begins the year enthusiastically, \u201cOkay kids, the word journal comes from the word journey. We are going to take a journey into the world of writing and discovery. This new journal is where you will explore and discover the vast depths of knowledge found within the universe and within your mind. This journal will be a safe place where you will be free to explore and reflect on your thoughts, as well as develop new thoughts, new ways of thinking, and new insights into your new thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two weeks later \u2013 tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. \u201cExcuse me, teacher\u2026 I thought we were going to write in our journals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Worried about a new district mandate on using technology in the classroom, the teacher defensively snaps, \u201cBilly, not now. We simply must\u2026 we have too much to do! We will get to that\u2026 soon\u2026 someday soon\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The journal lingers about, abandoned, but not forgotten, a sad reminder to all that the teacher may not know what he is doing.<\/p>\nWant real results teaching elementary school writing or struggling middle school writers? Be sure to check out Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay<\/em> on the homepage!<\/span><\/a>\n

<\/h3>\n

Journals Are Put Forth as an Educational Cure-all<\/h3>\n

Journals come in many forms: learning logs, writing journals, writer\u2019s notebooks, reflective journals, reading journals, and more.<\/strong>\u00a0 People mention journals conversationally as a solution for most any problem. For this reason, many school desks contain many abandoned journals.<\/p>\n

The school day only allows for so much journal writing, so teachers need to make effective use of journal writing time. Be sure to read How to Use Journals in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. You will better understand how to plan for and effectively use journal time in order to reach your academic goals and objectives. Like all academic tools, teachers must use journals wisely.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong><\/span> Students don\u2019t like to write.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Journals inspire children. They love to write in journals.<\/p>\n

Concept:<\/strong><\/span> Students need to reflect on their learning.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Journals are an effective place for students to explore and create an authentic understanding of their own learning.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong><\/span> Students are not engaged in their learning.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Journals help students take ownership of their learning.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong><\/span> Students are noisy and distracted.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Get these students writing in a journal! They will surely enjoy it! And it will focus them and engage them in learning.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong><\/span> Students are troubled, unmotivated, uncooperative etc.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Get them to connect with and express their thoughts and feelings in a journal.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong><\/span> ESL learners are struggling with the language.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Try using a journal. It\u2019s a safe place to play with language.<\/p>\n

Concept:<\/strong><\/span> Students need time for creative writing.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Journals are a gateway to student creativity!<\/p>\n

Concept:<\/strong><\/span> Students need many daily opportunities to write.
\nSolution:<\/strong><\/span> Have students write in many<\/em> different types of daily journals.<\/p>\n

Extreme Journal Abandonment<\/h3>\n

With all the excellent reasons for using journals, keep in mind that abandoned journals are a failure. Abandoned journals in students\u2019 desks are a sad reminder of something started and not finished. This sad reminder is something students interact with daily as they sort through their desks looking for that very important misplaced worksheet. \u201cIf only I didn\u2019t have this collection of abandoned journals in my desk, I would have been able to keep track of that important worksheet!\u201d<\/p>\n

I know I\u2019ve ended the school year with a few different abandoned journals.\u00a0 The purpose behind each journal has always been so promising, but when time is important, and the administration is reminding everyone about upcoming assessments, journals get lost in the shuffle.<\/p>\n

Many teachers have the journal problem worse than I ever have. I\u2019ve subbed and taken over classrooms on a number of my vacations. In other words, I\u2019ve been in many classrooms. Sometimes you come across desks that are stuffed to the brim, and you have to empty them just to figure out what is going on inside of them. You usually find a number of abandoned journals contributing to the clutter. When you ask students about the journals, here\u2019s how they respond:<\/p>\n

This is our Real Readers Reading Log<\/em>. Reading is so true to life, and we connect the written word with what we experience in the world and in life. We wrote in it once\u2014the first day\u2014and then again two months later. A couple weeks later Billy asked the teacher if we were ever going to write in it again. He ended up on the bench, so no one has mentioned it since. This is our Science Explorations Journal<\/em>, we have our Deep Thoughts Journal<\/em>, and we have our Connections Journal<\/em>. Not all have been as successful as the reading log.<\/p>\n

Re-Abandoned Journals: Sending Kids Home for the Summer with Abandoned Journals<\/h3>\n

What should a teacher do with abandoned journals at the end of the school year? Personally, I hate to waste paper. I also don\u2019t like to admit defeat. Here\u2019s a trick I\u2019ve tried once or twice:<\/p>\n

Kids, it\u2019s summer vacation. I want you to take this collection of abandoned journals and continue the journey without me. We began it together, but I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t continue it with you. I\u2019m too old, too tired to go on\u2014and I\u2019m going to Belize for my summer vacation. But please, continue on your journal journey without me\u2014and remember me from time to time. Write a little passage remembering your old teacher\u2014and journal traveler. Promise me\u2014promise me\u2014that you will continue the journal journey all summer long! The students cheer, \u201cWe promise! We promise!\u201d<\/p>\n

This is how these journals begin round two<\/em> in the life of the abandoned journal. Abandoned during the school year, and then once again abandoned in the summertime. Years later, people toss them into the recycling bin and cry, \u201cWhat a waste of paper.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nHave you taken a look at the Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay<\/em> program yet?<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the history of humankind, few ventures have been started and abandoned with such persistency and consistency as the journal. I think the elementary and middle school classroom is where this habit begins, and then with each new year, with each new journal, a commitment is made that this time will be different. Here is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[5,55,54,192,57,27,193,24,396,9],"class_list":["post-658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-journals-quick-writes","tag-how-to-teach-children-writing","tag-how-to-teach-writing","tag-ideas-for-teaching-writing","tag-journal-writing","tag-lesson-plans-writing","tag-middle-school-writing","tag-quick-writes","tag-reluctant-writers","tag-remedial-writing-instruction","tag-teaching-techniques"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=658"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2185,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658\/revisions\/2185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}