Week 2

Journal #2-9/16/2015

         I enjoyed reading about the writing to learn idea because it makes sense that we should use writing as a tool to learn not just as a method for writing what we know already. I would like to try using pen pals in my future classroom because I feel it would build community. The students could write to each other about whatever they want most times and other times it could be about topics discussed in class. In my future classroom I hope to use writing to learn more often. I always enjoyed as a student when we would get to write freely, so I will have to incorporate it.

        I do also plan on using double journal entries in my class. I think it offers a great way to connect to the reading and is more concrete than just taking notes. I would like to use this especially if I am an EL teacher. I think it would be useful because the student could write a fact they learned in science for example, then they could draw a picture and write a connection or thought about it. It would be a good way to help them build background knowledge of the topic. It would be interesting as well to use it with vocab words. The students for the so what part could write about when they could use the word or why the word in important. They could write about why it is important in the content it comes from.

         The carousel activity was a fun one to do as a class! I enjoyed that what we wrote could not be wrong as long as it related to what we thought of for each topic. This reminded me of the graffiti wall activity that we learned in social studies methods last year. This activity was similar to the carousel because for it each student would write on post it notes about each topic on the posters. Then they would post the post its on the corresponding poster. My block partner and I did this with our students and it went really well. I do plan on using the graffiti wall and the carousel activity. Both of them allow freedom to write and are great for showing students' knowledge.

         I am interested in our assignment on telling stories or vignettes. I think it will be a cool outlet to share our experiences as opposed to just writing about them. I think this would be fun to do with students as well for any subject really. Students could share their connections to a historical event or thoughts on it through video format. They could pretend to interview a historical figure or act out an event even. This would also allow students to use technology and become more competent in using software for recording movies.