In my Practicum classroom, my teacher kept talking about the student's "UnJournals." My first thought was that it was thought that journaling had a negative connotation-- confused by why they would call it that, I asked my teacher. UnJournaling is the idea of writing creatively in a non personal way. An example is "Describe in one paragraph someone who looks bored. Do not use any form of the word yawned, sighed, or stared." After watching the students come up with creative stories, it was easier for the class as a whole to find a common ground. Each student had a very different story, but there was noting that would make one students abilities personal from another. I don't know how I think about this now, but U like using it in some form in a classroom. Lots of the prompts are silly like "Write a story about a girl named Dot. Do not use andy letters with dots (i or j)." I think that it forces students to think about their writing in a more critical AND creative way. So frequently, students get lost in their own stories. Careful planning in a creative exercise like this could be really helpful for both the teacher to examine but also the student to be independently creative.
Those are both great ideas that are a good exercise to engage those students who may be reluctant writers in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea of unjournaling. I agree though, that the name is misleading. I had never really heard of unjournaling before, but with such a focus on personal narratives I see this as a refreshing teaching technique. Also, it's important for students to get work that's not so egocentric. Cool observation
ReplyDeleteI use a similar form of journaling as a morning warm up each day as I take attendance. When my kids first begin this practice each year, it is often viewed as a form of torture, but the prompts I give allow students to be creative and have fun with writing. I always end this time with a share out, and often by week two kids are raising their hands almost daily to share out.
ReplyDelete