Journaling in the Lower Grades

Are you struggling with student journaling in the lower grades? As a new teacher I had visions of journal time being a time when I could give students an independent assignment and have a few precious moments to get things done, such as taking attendance and checking folders. The first time I gave my first graders a journaling assignment, I soon realized that I couldn’t have been more wrong. I watched as my new students got out their journals and begin to write. I was horrified. Only a couple of my students had the right journal out. MOST of them opened up their journals in the middle and began to write….or scribble. I realized very quickly I was in trouble. Here are a few tips that helped me get my young students on track and journaling independently.

1. Color Coding - Young students often cannot read well enough to get out their “Writing Journal”. After all, they also have other journals in their desk, such as their “Math Journal” and their “DOL Journal”. I went out and purchased color dot stickers that you can get at Walmart for a couple of bucks. I put a green sticker on their writing journal, an orange sticker on their math journal, and a pink sticker on their DOL journal. Now, all I had to say when I wanted them to write in their writing journal was “Get our your green dot journal.” Instantly I looked around the room and they all had out the correct journal! Instant success!

2. Teach the format - You must teach them how to write in a journal. Young students do not come to school instantly knowing how to do this. If you want them to put the date, you must teach them that this is the first thing you do before you start writing. You must also teach them that the date goes at the top of the page and model it for them on the board or smart board. If you don’t, some students will have the date in the middle of the page or even at the bottom of the page. You must also teach them to write “on the next clean page.” Again, if you don’t, they will just pick any page and begin to write. At first, I do not let my students start writing until I walk around and have them put their finger on the next clean page. As I see them do this, I praise them and tell them to begin. Soon, they all know what “the next clean page” means.

3. Writing vs. Pictures - Teach them to write words and not just pictures. At first I tell them they must write at least one sentence and then let them draw a picture. I found that if I let them draw the picture first, they never got around to writing words. As your students get good at one sentence, you can increase it to two, three, etc. Praise your students for good handwriting and neat pictures.

4. Time Management - Give them a time limit. I always set a timer and tell my students they have five minutes to get the assignment done. Setting a timer helps students to manage their own time. I like timers that show on the smart board. That way they can visually see how much time they have left.

5. Close - After the five minutes, walk around and quickly check student work. I give each student who finish their work neatly a “stamp” on their page. I try to change the stamp up because my students like to be surprised about what their stamp will look like each day. Finally, by letting a couple of students share, they feel a sense of accomplishment and success. Of course you do not have time to let all students share every day. I tell my students that everyone will get a turn to share, just not every day. Of course you need to make sure that over the course of time everyone does get a chance to share.

Following these 5 simple steps soon got my students journaling independenlty and allowed me at least a brief few minutes to take attendance, read notes from parents, or just breathe before moving on with the rest of the day.