Adult/Student Reading Journal

Fall 2005

Each year I try to get parents involved in my classroom. Unfortunately, that usually means calling home regarding poor grades or behavior.  To get positive parent involvement, I am assigning a reading journal for my students and an adult in their life.

During the course of the year, I require my students to read.  Each quarter they must have 8.0 Accelerated Reader points.  Because this is new for 7^th grade students and parents, this assignment will help everyone understand what I expect.

For this assignment, my students will ask an adult to read a book with them.  (Both the student and adult will read the book separately.)  I have included a reading list that offers suggestions.  You do not have to choose a book from this list, but it must be Accelerated Reader, and it cannot be a book the student has already read.  While reading the novel, the student and adult keep a journal.  The journal will contain a minimum of five dated entries from each person with each entry at least ten lines long.  The entries are simply a conversation about the book.  It is a chance to ask questions, clarify things, share ideas, make connections, draw conclusions, and make predictions about the book.  I have included examples of journals.  After finishing the book, the students must hand in the journals no later than October 24, but I encourage students to turn them in much earlier.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this assignment, please feel free to e-mail me at mbuerkle@springfield.mntm.org or post comments on my Web site message board.

Instructions for Dialogue Journals

Your dialogue journal is a place for you and your partner to write back and forth about the story you are reading.  All of your responses will stay together in your notebook as a record of your thinking, learning, and reading.

In your journal, write about what you’ve read.  Tell what you noticed.  Tell what you thought and felt and why.  Tell what you liked and didn’t and why.  Tell what these stories said and explain how you reacted.  Ask your partner questions and write back about your ideas, feelings, and similar experiences.

Please date each entry and write in ink as legibly as possible.  Mention the title of the story you are writing about in the first entry, and write a minimum of ten lines for each entry.  Be sure to sign your name at the end of your response.

Remember, journal writing does not represent a polished piece of writing.  Do your best and have fun.

Schedule of Due Dates

 

After choosing a book, use the enclosed calendars to create a timeline for completing the project.

1)     Check how many chapters (or pages) in the book.

2)     Decide how many chapters (or pages) you will read each night.

3)     Decide after which chapters you will write journals.  Remember, each person must have five entries, each ten lines long.

4)     Set a goal for the final date in which the student will hand in the journal entries (all in the same notebook) and take the Accelerated Reader test.  Last possible due date is October 24.

5)     Report to Mr. Buerkle the name of the book and the date the student will turn in the journals.

Project Goals

I want to get parents involved with school.  I know many of you do a great job of getting involved already.  I also know that 11, 12, and 13 year olds are in a stage of pushing their parents away in order to gain their independence.  By doing this assignment students are asking their parents to get involved.  Use this time to strengthen your relationship with your child.  Many of you may have a favorite book that you want your child to read.  Now is a great time to do that.

I want students to talk to their parents.  Many young adult novels deal with issues that affect teenagers.  Use this time to talk about some heavy issues that are sometimes uncomfortable to bring up.

I want to eliminate parents’ shock at midterm.  In the past, students have waited until the last minute to get their AR points and then run out of time.  A zero on AR really hurts their grade.  By doing this assignment, the students are getting their books read for AR.  This in turn will help their grade because AR is a 40 point assignment (about 15% of their overall grade).

READ!  READ!  READ!

FAQ

Do they have to do this for every book they read?  No, this is a one time thing.

What if I choose not to read with my child?  You can find another adult (out of high school) to read with your child.

How much is this assignment worth?  15 points

Is my child graded on the journal entries that I write?  Absolutely not.  Parents are not getting graded.  To be honest, I really don't read the parent entries.