How I introduce Journal Writing in September
Kids are really struggling with self-regulation these days. Sometimes this means that when I introduce writing in a Journal, the kids struggle with simple things like page set up. So to prevent the chaos when a kid can’t find a blank page in their journal because they have been randomly using pages throughout the book, I like to introduce Journal writing in a structured way with a temporary Journal.
Creating Your Journal for Elementary
The notebooks we use are bound by 2 staples in the middle, so it’s easy for me to rip out a few pages and staple them together as a Journal with 8 pages. I usually write on the cover, or sometimes I photocopy a cover and glue it on the first page. This helps the kids start on the same page.
Introduce Journals in Elementary
So before I hand out their Journals, I talk about what they see. Now With Kindergarten, I use a blank book. If they start to write a lot, I will draw a line and ask them to draw above the line, and write below the line. By first grade they are using lined notebooks, and by third grade they are using interlined notebooks.
Journal Expectations
Here’s the series of events, and I write this on the board.
Step 1 – date.
Step 2 – write and draw
Step 3 – get a star from the teacher
Step 4 – color
So what do I mean with these 4 steps?
Step 1 – Introduce Organizing Your Journal – Write the Date
Pick a spot on the page that you want them to write the date. Drill this into them. The first thing they do is write the date. I walk around and make sure they have done this. With lined notebooks I want it on the first line. With unlined notebooks, at the top of the page. If the book has margins, I talk to them about starting their writing at the left margin, and then writing to the other size of the page. And then starting the next line against the margin. It’s incredible how many kids don’t get that and they produce writing that I like to call, “writing down the stairs” where the writing starts further and further away from the margin on each line.
Step 2 – Write and Draw in the Journal in Elementary
I have an upcoming video on what to write when you don’t know what to say, because we always get those kids that struggle with what to write. I also have linked below a freebie of Journal topics that you can glue onto the page to help these kids. But anyway, I simply tell the kids to write and draw. No coloring yet! The first few days I am just figuring out what they are each capable of so I don’t usually set limits. I just want to see one sentence. But by the end of the first week I tell them.
- 1 sentence for first grade.
- 2 sentences for second grade
- 3 sentences for 3rd grade
Also, for drawing, some kids get really bogged down on producing a work of art. So I tell them that this is a writing activity, not an art activity. There is time during art lessons to produce detailed drawing, but for Journal time they are just illustrating their writing, so if they need to keep it simple, then I remind them of that. Conversely, some kids just draw stick figures and I will ask them. Where is this person’s face? Or nose? Or hands? Or clothes? They usually find that funny and will then go and draw them.
Step 3 – Get a Star!
They need to come to me and I will get them to read their passage, and then give them a star. I do not correct their writing at this point in the year. I want to encourage them to get their ideas down on the paper. When students are done writing, they can bring it to me for a star. At this point in the year, I am not grading or correcting their sentences yet. When I introduce journals in elementary, I want to focus on making the students comfortable with just getting their ideas on paper which is why I don’t start with prompts right away.
Step 4 – Color – Make It Bright!
Step 4 – color. So I have some rules for this as well.
- 5 year olds need to use at least 5 colors
- 6 year olds need to use at least 6 colors
- 7 years – 7 colors
- 8 years – 8 colors
The first 4 or 5 times I teach this activity I write the steps on the board to remind the kids and then I point to it and remind the kids who aren’t following the routine.
Time to Introduce Journals in Elementary
Older children often need more than one lesson to complete a Journal entry – and some slow younger kids to. With those kids, I get them to hand in their incomplete Journals, open to the page they are working on. This gives me the chance to look at it as I collect it, and when I pass it back to them the next day I give it to them open to the page they need to work on. This reminds them that they haven’t finished yesterday’s entry so they don’t simply start another page and you end up with a book full of incomplete journal entries. It also give me a chance to point out something that I want them to focus on. Like, “Oh Johnny, could you write the date again on the first line, not at the top of the page??“ Or “I like how your printing is on the line, Suzie, but I need you to make finger spaces between the rest of your words so I can read them.”
I realize that my routine is very structured, but I do not put limits on their topics at the start of the year. I do want to foster their creativity, but also teach them about writing conventions.
After they have done this 7 or 8 times, and filled their temporary Journal, I will move them on to a full notebook. This is a big deal, and I like to really congratulate the kids who do this. But remember that even though they’ve done it 7 or 8 times there will still be kids who don’t know what page to write on next, or where to put the date, so keep you eye on them at the start of the period, to make sure they are doing this.
