It's my job to create opportunities for students to write daily in a variety of contexts. Journaling is one avenue to help students. Far from the dry checklist or doodle-pad, journaling in the classroom allows students to reflect on their interests, thoughts, and issues in their lives. Journals in my classroom in the past have taken the form of a:
This year I will introduce something new: Don Miguel Ruiz's Little Book of Wisdom: The Essential Teachings. https://www.amazon.com/Miguel-Ruizs-Little-Book-Wisdom/dp/1938289609
Here's a thought-provoking excerpt:
"We believe that we are living in an external reality, but in truth all we ever see is inside of our heads. Sure, we can perceive all the objects around us, but each one of us will have a completely different point of view. No two people see things the exact same way."
One reason Ruiz' short musings will be useful in the middle school classroom is because my students are expected to decipher philosophy passages on NWEA, yet their experience with the language of philosophy is limited. Ruiz' writings will offer them a glimpse into the world of philosophy without turning them off to philosophy in general.
- Process Journal for Personal Project/Community Project/NGC and/or Service Project
- Gratitude Journal--There's lots of research on the benefits of daily gratitude journals.
- Writer’s journal that prompts you to reflect on famous quotations, social issues, or literary themes
- Free-form journal that allows you to write about anything and everything, providing insights into how your thoughts and emotions unfold over time.
This year I will introduce something new: Don Miguel Ruiz's Little Book of Wisdom: The Essential Teachings. https://www.amazon.com/Miguel-Ruizs-Little-Book-Wisdom/dp/1938289609
Here's a thought-provoking excerpt:
"We believe that we are living in an external reality, but in truth all we ever see is inside of our heads. Sure, we can perceive all the objects around us, but each one of us will have a completely different point of view. No two people see things the exact same way."
One reason Ruiz' short musings will be useful in the middle school classroom is because my students are expected to decipher philosophy passages on NWEA, yet their experience with the language of philosophy is limited. Ruiz' writings will offer them a glimpse into the world of philosophy without turning them off to philosophy in general.