Setting up our Journals in Language Arts

1. Setting up our Journals in Language Arts Winarski/ Brownell

2. Outside of Your Journals • Write your name—first and last—neatly on the front of your journal. • Write your class period under your name. • Write my name– WINARSKI-- under your class period.

3. Table of Contents • The first page in your journal, at the very top of the page, write TABLE OF CONTENTS • On each line of the first page, number down from 1 until the last line (24/25). • In the upper rightcorner of your first page, write TOC.

4. Find the middle of your Journal • Find the middle part of your journal (usually the place where you find the binding—the stitching). • On the top of the page, write “WRITING TECHNIQUES”. • On each line of the page, number down from 1 until the last line (24/25).

5. Rules for Journaling • You must write the entire time during journaling time. • Address the prompt. If it asks for a list, then create a list; if it asks for writing, then write the best you can, as much as you can. • Try to write the most you can in the time given. • Spelling does not count in journals; don’t erase, or cross out—they take too much time—just keep going and you can go back later and cross out what you don’t want to keep in the journal. • If you want to use punctuation—use it; if not, then don’t. The point of journaling is to write as much as you can about the given topic—to get your ideas about a topic on the paper.

6. Rules for Sharing Journals • When sharing your journals, you must stand next to your desk. • Read exactly what you wrote in your journal—no adlibbing allowed. • Read clearly and loudly enough for everyone to hear. • Be proud to be reading your own writing.

7. Listening to Those Reading • If you are not sharing your journal, then you must listen to others respectfully. • Pay attention to what they are reading so that you may learn something new, or connect to something that is being said. • As you listen, you may find something you wish to write about too—make a note on the same page of the journal that we are working on for a later time.

8. Turn to the “Writing Techniques” section of your journal…. • Turn to the first page past the table of contents • At the top of the page write “Brainstorming”/ write it on the table of contents by number “1” as well • There are a lot of ways to get the ideas in your head down onto paper. One way is “brainstorming”. • “Brainstorming” means you write or list whatever ideas come to you about your topic. • Don’t censor your thoughts at this point. • The point of “brainstorming” is to get as many ideas about your topic on paper that you can. • Later, you can go back to your brainstorming and decide which ideas you want to use or eliminate in your writing piece.

9. Turn back to the beginning of your Journal • Turn to the TOC for your Journal • Next to the number 1 on the TOC page, write “Love it or Loathe it” • This will be your first journal page

10. “Love it/ Loathe it” • On the first page past your table of contents, write the title at the top of the page: “Love it/ Loathe it” • Put a • Create a “T” chart on the page and on one side, write things you “love” • On the opposite side write things you “loathe” • This journal is in list format; for each side, you should have at least 10 things listed • You have 5 minutes to write

11. Does anyone want to share? • If you share, remember to stand up at your desk and speak so everyone can hear you. • Class, remember when others share, we listen respectfully. • As we listen, we try to connect ideas of our own with what is being spoken by the speaker. • As we listen, perhaps the speaker sparks an idea for us, and we jot that down on our journal page.