Journal Boards with Focus Correction Areas

My students write every day in my classroom. Not only is this a great formative assessment and classroom routine, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to normalize writing assignments. Taking time to write anything is beneficial. But targeted writing practice that focuses on a variety of skills will take students to the next level. Read all about the writing program that I follow here.

Organizing the various terms and elements that I wanted to incorporate in my students’ journals was daunting. But I found an organized way to implement the dozens of terms that ought to be included.

First, I did my research. I went through my curriculum, suggestions for researchers, and standardized assessment samples to determine which terms should be used in the prompts and which elements should be required in the responses.

Next, I listed all of the academic vocabulary that should be included in the journal prompts based on my research. Now, when I am writing daily prompts I have a quick reference sheet chalked full of great words (words like evidence, compare, synthesize, etc.). Check out my freebie library to access my list. 

Then, I typed up a list of elements that students should use in their responses. After printing and laminating the elements, I stuck magnets to the back and now have dozens of writing elements on hand. Under the daily journal prompt, I attach three of these elements (Focus Correction Areas per Collins Writing Program) daily. Whichever elements are on the board must be included in the journal response and must be highlighted in the students’ responses. The elements address content (think comprehension), organization (think writing), style (think writing), and conventions (think grammar) and I try to use three different types of FCAs in each journal. I grade the journals based on these convention areas. The beauty of it is that students are set up for success when they are only focusing on 3 correction areas for each journal. This is a great way to hone in on particular skills and build strong writing habits. Additionally, FCA's are very easy to differentiate!

Here is a sample journal prompt:

Describe your impressions of the illustration of Annie's cottage. 

-Focus Correction Areas: Complete Sentences, 1 Simile, 1 Vocabulary Term

-"Illustration" is an example of academic vocabulary

Students will receive 1 point for impressions, 1 for complete sentences, 1 for a simile included in the response, and 1 for a vocabulary term included in the response.

Having these printed FCAs has made a huge difference in planning, grading, and completing journals!