[LIT] Ariticle from Voices in the Middle--and a new subject:)

[Janet Smith]

Hello, I have been reading your chats about managing journals. I have had
between 130 and 150 students (8th grade) for 11 years. I love using journals
because that is how I know a student is really comprehending (thinking
about) what he/she is reading. I refuse to give book reports, because I feel
they encourage cheating and procrastinating. I use the reading prompts on
Mondays and Fridays, and every two weeks I start sifting through the
notebooks and respond to what they are writing. When do I do this? Sometimes
during silent reading, sometimes at home while I am watching the Browns,
sometimes during lunch when I feel like being by myself. I always write
brief comments, and when a student is obviously crying our for something
more, I will take the time to really write back. I use a 1-4 rubric to
evaluate. The students know  that I am looking for 5 to 7 sentences and a
quote to prove what they are thinking. Sometimes a student reads an entire
book in 2 weeks, and sometimes only 20 pages. But every response is valued
because of what the student thinks about their reading. I usually choose
from a list of open-ended prompts, but occasionally will let them write
about anything at all that has caused them to think while reading.
At the end of the nine-week period I look through the notebooks and average
the rubric grades. It isn't hard at all, and the kids can't wait to get
their books back to see my comments and my grade.
Janet Smith    
8th Grade Reading/LA
Conneaut, Ohio

 
-------Original Message-------

From: FineArt11 at aol.com
Date: 07/10/07 16:41:48
To: lit at literacyworkshop.org
Subject: Re: [LIT] Ariticle from Voices in the Middle--and a new subject:)
 
thanks for sending the article.  i am working on a grant via the  Internet
and an online class, so i have not read the entire article, but i  thought
of
something when you asked about reading 100 interactive  journals.  i too,
have
the same problem.  more than 100 students and  not enough time to respond to
journaling.  i do not grade journals if it is  free writing.  What does
everyone
think about pairing up the students and  have them interact?  they could
write in their own journals after SSR, then  switch and respond to a partner
s
journaling.  i am hoping with 5  classes instead of 6, i can use the extra
planning to get through some of  these.  i spent countless days last year
staying
until 5pm and my kids get  out at 2:40.  i need to make this manageable.
 
 
 
*\l/**\l/**\l/*Lynn*\l/**\l/**\l/*
Doctorate Student, Florida Atlantic University
 
Please visit my READING website! :o)
http://cyberedtech.fau.edu/domino/default.htm
 
 
 
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