Journal Requirements

2009-2010

Why do we have to write journals?• Journals are a very

important part of becoming an effective writer. They are a safe place for you to practice the writing skills we are working on in class without me coming behind you with a red pen.

What should we write about in our journals?• Well, you can write about

anything you want. The journal topic sheets I have provided are only suggestions and while I’d like to see you try out some of the topics, you are free to come up with topics of your own.

Should my journals be fiction or nonfiction?• They can be either. There

will probably be days that you choose to be creative and write a story, while at other times, you may choose to write about something going in your life that you are excited about or maybe even stressed about.

Is Mrs. Burchette going to read my journals?• Some of them. At the end

of each nine weeks, you will be given the chance to pick which journals you want me to read. You will also have the chance to tell me if there are any journals that you do not want me to read.

Do I have to read any of my journals out loud to the class?• We will have days that we

participate in something called “Author’s Chair.” This will be a time that students can volunteer to read something they’ve written.

• You are required to take a place in the “Author’s Chair” at least once every nine weeks.

So, how many journals entries do I have to write?• It depends on how long

each entry is. You must fill 18 pages (or 9 pages front and back) each nine weeks.

Will I get class time to work on my journals?• Yes. Another one of your

choices on “You Choose” days is to journal.

Will Mrs. Burchette ever assign journal topics?• Yes. We will periodically

have what we call “quick writes” in class during which I place a given topic on the board and you will write on that topic for 10 minutes. This is to help prepare you for writing tests when you have to write on assigned topics.

Should I skip lines when I write in my journal?• No. If you want to skip

lines, each side of a page only counts as ½ a page.

Where do I keep my journal entries?• You will keep your journal

entries in your journal folder. We will set up your journal folder in a few minutes.

Can I take my journal out of the classroom?• Yes. In fact, you will need to

take your journal to and from class. While we will have time in class to write in our journals every so often, the majority of your journal entries will be done outside of class.

• It is very important that you keep up with your journals. If you lose the folder, you will have to start all over on your journal entries!

How will Mrs. Burchette monitor and notify my parents of my journal progress?

• On the same days that we have reading check-in, I will also be checking your journals. The reading update slip will include an update on your journal progress.

What other questions do you have?

Journal Folder Set-Up

• Sample Journal Page• Possible Journal Topics• Blank Paper (18 sheets if

you only write on the front; 9 sheets if you write on the front and back)