Being new to the process of teaching writing, I am always looking for ways to incorporate writing into my other daily activities. One of the best ideas that I found while reading for my Masters' classes was to use "Reading Response" journals for students during Guided Reading. My students will be in third grade next year and I have decided to try using "Guided Reading Response Journals" for each student. Each student will be required to respond to the work and reading that they did while at Guided Reading. I will have my students respond for 3-4 minutes while they are at centers and not during the time at Guided Reading so that I am not taking away from the reading work that we are doing. This will also allow students to process what they read and possibly allow students to share thoughts that they had while reading but were unable to share. I made this template for the cover of each journal.
This would link reading and writing more than I have time for during Guided Reading. It would allow students to respond to the discussion or book that we were reading and promote more writing practice in the classroom. Although I do not know much about the new state assessments, I image this deeper, more independent thinking would help students prepare for this test. Do you already use this type of response journal? I would love to hear ideas and suggestions that teachers have used in the past.
Katie, I love the idea of a Reading Response journal. This is also something I would like to incorporate next year. Probably, just for second semester (I teach Kindergarten). I want my students to understand that Writing is everywhere and can be used to explain most things. Writing is not simply for Writing time. A big part of Common Core involves students summarizing and explaining in their own words and a Response Journal really promotes that!
ReplyDeleteYour journals are super cute! I would suggest that you make sure you explain your expectations to them before assigning the journals. I could pictures some of the third graders I worked with last year writing "It was funny." Make sure you let them know that you really want to know their thoughts after reading or what they were thinking while they were reading. This should be done in a couple of sentences.
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