If you do not have the time to read and respond to youth journals, Book Buddy Journals are a viable option. These journals give children opportunities to write letters back and forth about a book they are reading. This type of journal writing offers authentic writing experiences, as children communicate with an audience. As the writers gain more practice in talking and writing about literature, their responses become more thoughtful and detailed. A Learning Log is a type of journal in which students write informally about what they have learned.
Writers can define problems, set goals, ask questions, record observations and explore ideas.
Learning Logs are an excellent way to stimulate reflection and thought about how and what one learns. As a parent and educator, I find topics such as discrimination, prejudice and slavery difficult to discuss with my children and students. The following books are exemplary at addressing these topics, with sensitive and intelligent treatment of the subjects. Journal writing offers ways to discuss difficult subjects. Reading literature about such themes and responding to them through journal writing can offer adults and youth valuable learning opportunities.