Whole Class Journals
Are you looking for ideas to incorporate more writing in your classroom? I know that writing can be one of the hardest subjects to instruct– especially when you have students who are less than enthusiastic about it. Here are a few of my favorite ideas to make writing more hands-on and exciting for your kids!
Host a Class Blog
Try giving your students a class blog. They love using computers, and it encourages them to write– not to mention helps them become more independent and excited to write! There are tons of free blogging platforms out there. Try one like Fanschool which allows you moderate the content.
Whole Class Journals
If you are looking for more hands-on writing practice, you may want to try “Whole Class Journals”. These are notebooks with one theme, like: Puppies. So everyone can choose to write in that specific journal whenever they feel like it– they just have to put their name/date at the top of their page– and make sure they return the journal– and make sure they stay on topic.
Directions are easy:
- Purchase a set of cheap notebooks (Back to school sales are great for this! You can also cut composition notebooks in half and use those.)
- Download the journal prompts/covers from TPT
- Print the covers/subjects you want to use
- Glue onto the front of the notebooks or composition journals OR print them onto half sheet label pages and simply peel & stick.
- Find a tub or bin to store the notebooks for easy class access.
I always look forward to seeing what my kids come up with– I think they will enjoy reading them as a class! Click HERE or below to download the journal covers!
Pin the image below to save this idea for late!
Have a great day!
That last part was just for me, right? Even if it wasn't, I'm pretending like it was, just cause I like to feel special. Also, I wish I was in your class so I could write in the whole class journals… It sounds like fun!
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing! I know what you mean by adding more writing…I need to do the same and have been searching for an idea to add intrest to my writing center.
Thank you! THis was just what I was looking for to use in my class!!!
Thank you for saving me the time of having to make these… it was exactly what I was looking for!
This idea seems to be "heaven sent" to me. I just finished marking 28 stories from my class of gifted students. To say the least I am crestfallen. I need to find a way to get them writing MORE. I had seen the idea before on Pinterest of Whole Class Journals, but reading your blog post made it all much more clear to me.
I love it so much I would like to invite you to come and share it at my New Year Linky Party I'm hosting on my blog (my first every party) at http://teachingisagift.blogspot.ca! I think there are many other teachers out there who would LOVE to download this freebie!
I will be sure to let you know how it works with my class in the New Year….now I have to find some notebooks I can use:) That is what after Christmas sales are for right?
I have resource students and have been looking at a way to implement MORE writing. We do not write near enough. We are so focused on reading, math and ELA that writing is often left out. :/ Thank you for this great idea. I'll be incorporating it into a work station next year!
I really like this idea. I do have a question. Would you use this more like a center or would you do whole group? If you did whole group, you would have to have one per child. I am thinking I will use only have a few and the kids can choose one when their work is finished. Any opinions about this.
That should say I will only have a few….