Student Journals and Group Discussion

What is a Student Journal?

A Place to gather notes and ideasDocument personal responseEntertain possible questionsDocument ideas raised in classDocument critical responsePromotes formal responses for future discussions

Journal Writing and Exploring Poetry

Poetry can compress meaning into few words.Can be confusing and hard to decipherRequires more concentrationRequires you to reread selectionRequires discussionJournals help to organize your ideas and the ideas of others

Journal OrganizationJournal will be divided by three subtitlesInclude the date and topicSubtitles include:

-Unknown words-Point of View-Literary devices / conflicts-Mood/tone-Theme/message-Quotes-Questions-Opinion/ personal connection-Group discussion**-Teacher’s Notes

Sample of Journal Writing

Unknown words indentify 3 and define themPoint of viewFirst/second/thirdLiterary DevicesIdentify three (minimum)ConflictsInternal/interpersonal/externalMood/toneHappy, sad, sarcastic, etc.Theme/messageAnybody can be a hero.QuotesIdentify 2 quotes related to theme,mood, etc

Author Title Date

Questions2 questions you have about the selectionConnections/OpinionsSomething you experienced, saw on tv, etc* Group discussionWhat did others think about theselection and did find anything different.•IllustrationDraw a scene to illustrate the Reading

Group Discussion – Note Taking

Notes that are written down while you are listening to others.What are others saying about the poem?How are they saying it?Isolate and sift relevant informationShare your ideas, information, and reactions with others.Compare the appreciate different ideasUse other’s ideas to promote your understandingRe-think your position

Sample of Note Taking Based on Group Response

English

Poem Every Grain of SandSept 2, 2003 English

Poem Every Grain of SandSept 2, 2003

Group Discussion

•Berkley said that he thinks the poem is about someone dying . He also said thePoem is filled with metaphors and we identified several of them such as . . . •Lewis thought that the dog barking wasAlso symbolic and we found that writer was trying to capture time as it is becauseHe no longer wanted to interfere with life.

Use a Check List

•Make a list of interesting words and ideas.•Make observations about setting, plot, and character.•Describe connections from your own life to specific events, characters, and points of interests in the text.•Draw images and scenes that illustrate the text.•Collect interesting quotations from the text.•Raise questions to ask yourself, your teachers, and your Classmates.•Who, what, when, where, and why.