Reading Journal Response for Grades 6-8

A child’s connection to reading can be strengthened with a short writing activity after the book has been read. This book includes several journal responses from which to choose. Responses are included for nonfiction and fiction books and some may even be adapted for poetry and plays. Select the journal response that is most appropriate, and give your child time to write a short response to the prompt. If your child is struggling to come up with a response, do some pre-writing. As your child prepares to write, talk about some ideas he or she might include. Have your child make a list of these ideas and talk about how he or she can craft the ideas into sentences. You can also ask questions that get a little deeper, such as, “What excited you?” or “What were you thinking as we read this part?” If your child is a reluctant writer, here are some quick tips you could try: • Ask your child questions that may help him or her write the answer. • Ask your child to connect the book to his or her life, and ask how. • Allow your child to use the computer to respond. Help make the writing activity fun by allowing your child to respond to whatever he or she related to. When reviewing your child’s work, respond to the content of his or her writing rather than the mechanical errors. Journal writing should be viewed as a quick, fun way to give an opinion or extend the learning. A log has been included at the end of this guide. We recommend that you fill it in whenever your child responds to a text.