Mindprint Toolbox

Search Results

Please wait...

Use Dialogue Journals to Give and Get Feedback

Tags

ELA: Writing Social-Emotional Learning ^21st Century Skills All Ages Strategy

Skills

Anxiety Expressive Language Social Awareness

Use Dialogue Journals to Give and Get Feedback

If your student is reluctant to talk to you but enjoys writing

How To Apply It!

  1. Dialogue journals provide an opportunity for adults to model written language without directly correcting a student, all while strengthening a relationship.
  2. Journals can be between a teacher and student, or a parent and child. They can be created electronically or with traditional pen and paper. They are, in essence, a written conversation.
  3. If you choose pen and paper, consider purchasing a special notebook to share. If online, be sure you have a private folder to share your correspondence.
  4. Your journal can focus on a specific topic or interest or just a general back-and-forth about what is on your mind. Choose the topic that is most likely to engage and encourage the student, so he is willing to write freely and has good writing practice in a way that feels helpful and not like an assignment.
  5. Use the journal as an opportunity to model good writing and thoughtful ideas. However, adults might want to refrain from correcting mechanics so the student does not become reluctant to write.
  6. Agree on a regularly scheduled correspondence so you are sure you keep up with the dialogue. Once per week might be a good frequency.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Dialogue journals have the dual purpose of nurturing a strong adult relationship and providing a writing opportunity. For relationship purposes, be sure to pick a topic of interest to the student and keep the contents of the journal confidential. To improve writing, be careful to model good writing without giving corrections so a student improves without feeling self-conscious.