Artifact Nine: Response Journals
The literature response journals have changed my
way of using 'journals'. The students enjoy the response journals and are
eager to write in them on a daily basis.
Context:
As a direct result of the writing instruction given by Dr. Ulmer in RE 3850, I have incorporated the use of response journals in my classroom. We began with three simple questions so that the students were not overwhelmed. By modeling and practicing responding to these questions after we read aloud poetry or hearing a story, the students began to use the literature to relate to their lives. Once the students were confident in their writing abilities and responses, many of them took their learning to a higher level. Not only were the students more able to complete a response but they were also very eager to start their journals entries. Once the students wrote their responses, at least two of the students shared their responses with the class. This was very empowering for them as they sparked learning ideas within their classmates' minds. Some examples of responses may include: venn diagrams, process writing, graphic organizers, and flow maps.
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Standards:
● Standard A: Instructional Expertise
Having used journals in my room in the past, I was quickly amazed by the difference a response journal made to the students. The response journal was not a tool in which the students had to write to a staged prompt. The response journal was just that, a response in the student's own language about what he or she had learned. The response journal can be used across the curriculum to provide a tool that gives ownership of every lesson learned.
● Standard B: Knowledge of the Learners
I was able to reflect daily on the instruction presented and modify my instruction based on the students' responses to their learning. The students were able to work at their own pace and really get into their responses. By making the journal personal, none of the students felt threatened to perform in a certain way.
● Standard D: Content Knowledge
Utilizing the response journal gave me instant feedback on whether or not a student was personalizing the instruction. Being knowledgeable about the curricular content of a second grader allowed me to ensure learning.
● Standard E: Professional Development and Leadership
Several of my teammates have come into the classroom to see how the students were using their response journals. By allowing the teachers to see what the children were able to offer was very empowering for them. This gave them a writing outlet for the students that was not always a staged prompt.