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

[Mary Dovey]

One thing I always tried to do was to stagger due dates on my 
journals--facing five or six a day over a ten day period is less daunting to 
respond to, and a lot easier to carry if you're taking them home!
Mary
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Janet Smith" <jtsmith1 at suite224.net>
To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." 
<lit at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 5:26 PM
Subject: Re: [LIT] Ariticle from Voices in the Middle--and a new subject:)


> 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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