Whenever I start journaling with students, I like to give them the opportunity to simply write about whatever they want. However, sometimes students have no idea what to write about. When students don’t what to write in their journal, I like to use these steps to help them choose a journal topic.
Check out my YouTube video about this below.
Always Start with the Basics
I have a strict journal structure I like my students to follow. So, to start I like to remind students to start with putting the date on top of the page. Then, I reinforce the idea that when you write, you have to start on the left-hand side of the page. Finally, it’s time for them to choose a journal topic.
Choose an Object for a Journal Topic
When students need to choose a journal topic and are struggling, I tell them to choose something to look at it. For example, I might choose a fancy pencil. I will start to verbally describe the pencil starting with what I see. After students have verbally described the object, I suggest students start off the journal with “I see my pencil.”
Re-Read and Write!
Once my students write that one sentence, I remind them that good writers re-read their work. So, they re-read that sentence then they can keep going. To help students choose a journal topic is one thing, but now they have to write more. I use the prompt, “What can you tell me about the pencil?” This is true for anything they are writing about. I can always say what color and shape the object is. I can also say why I like that particular object. If I said it was fancy, I would also describe what makes the pencil fancy to me.
Revise Your Work
Once students have finished writing, I encourage them to go back and re-read. When they re-read, I have them check for the following qualities:
- Does it make sense?
- Do I have finger spaces?
- Are my letters sitting on the lines?
- Do I have capitals and periods?
After reading through the journal over the topic they chose, I suggest students write a sentence that will wrap it up. This helps students start to get the concept of conclusions.
Writing a journal can be difficult, and it can be more difficult when students have to choose a journal topic. Helping students with a variety of ways to brainstorm journal topics is a great way to help students conquer writer’s block. I personally like the concept of describing an object because then students work on other skills too like colors, shapes, and other attributes they have learned.
Want some free Journal topics? Just fill in the link below and I’ll send you some journaling slips that can be glued into your students’ journals to give them ideas to write about.
