Monday, March 3, 2008
The Ways Children Reflect
The questions posted on Dr. Chatel's page got me thinking of the real reason teachers always made us right journal entries and letters to people who really didn't even exist. I remember doing these assignments all through elementary school and know that I am learning why we did what we did then I have realized it was all about reflecting on things that we had done. I remember writing to characters in books asking them questions about why they did what they did in the book. This whole process was a different and interesting way for our teachers to see what we took from the book we read. As a teacher I feel it is an easy way to assess what kind of comprehension our students possess. Teachers evaluate journals by the evidence the students use from the story and the language that is used. On Tuesdays there is a group of students that see the reading teacher for 30 minutes, this past week I went with the students and there task for the day was to write a journal entry as if they were in the story and lived the events that happened in the story. The students got check marks for every detail they used that came from the story they read. This was a great way to get them motivated because each student wanted the most checks, therefore, they paid close attention to detail and wrote down everything they could. I think journals and letters are great ways to assess children's understanding as long as you do not ware them out, sometimes teachers can be to tough and mark the journals bad, that is not what they are for in my opinion.
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3 comments:
Journal writing is a great way to get students to be involved with thier writing process. How do you plan to impliment the idea of writing in journals in your future class. I feel that I will have students practice writing as if they are the character in the book that they are reading. I feel this is a great way to get students to think about the book they are reading and to put themselves in someone elses shoes. Let me know what you think.
Sarah, you brought up some really great and interesting points. Just like you, I can remember writing letters to fictional people and wonder "what is the point." I agree and think that those kinds of things are great. I like how your Tuesday Experience teacher evaluates the students journals. This also looks at a students comprehension of the story in greater detail. I really agree that teachers can be to tough on the students. Teachers have to be careful with being to tough because that could really make the child scared or feel like they aren't good at writing. Will you use these sorts of techniques in your classroom? Have you thought of any other ways that might be effective?
Unlike you, I do not really remember writing much in elementary school, probably because I never understood why we had to do it. I really only remember writing some fictional stories and I remember having to keep a journal one year. I absolutely hated the journal! We had to write a certain number of times each week, and we could write about anything. I never knew what to write! I am beginning to understand why my teacher made me keep the journal. It is something that I would like to incorporate into my classroom, but I want the students to enjoy it, like the studnets from your Tuesday Experience enjoyed writing their responses because there was a purpose.
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