LITERATURE JOURNAL ACTIVITIES

                                        LITTLE BEAR

  For each novel or author study, my students write in their literature response journal.  The writing activities are both guided through topics or a free response format.  For students who are NOT familiar with literature circles or journals, the teacher should model this writing process and provide guided topics.

   As a rule, my students write in their journal at least twice a day.  One response is written during class; the other as a homework assignment.  Each page is illustrated by the student.

           MAKING JOURNALS:

         Journals can be made from construction paper that has been folded to make a writing folder.  Other materials may include:

             * Cereal boxes covered with wall paper or contact paper.

             *  Notebooks with wide lines

             *   Steno books

             *  Pocket folders with brads

             *  Paper - wide lines, lines with a divided guide in the center, or

                 blank paper.  I find the students prefer the lined paper.  However they can make their own lines using a ruler. 

                 Leave the top half of the paper blank for the illustrations; the bottom half with lines.  Clip art related to the theme can be added as borders.

        The materials used should be durable.  For construction paper folders I laminate the paper before adding the writing paper.  If you want the students to design the cover for the journal, have them do so, glue the design with rubber cement to the cover, and then laminate.

           GRADING JOURNALS

     The literature journal is a significant part of the student's grade.  There are no right or wrong answers to this process.  However, the quality of the journal will be used in the grading procedure. 

          Develop a rubric for your journals.  I do not count punctuation, spelling, or grammar in the journal.  This is another writing process.  The purpose of this journal is for students to BECOME ACTIVE READERS and reflect on what they are reading.  Journals are turned in at the end of the literature or author study (one to two weeks).

          A rubric may include:

              *  Points for a completed journal page each day.

              *  Points for a completed journal assignment for homework.

              *  Detailed thought processes; did the student respond to the topic or reading selection from a concrete level or synthesis level of thought.  How did the student relate to the reading.

              *  Points for specific journal activities  such as group projects, centers, etc.

              *  Points for illustrations - details in the drawing; not graded on artistic ability just descriptive aspects. 

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