For the rest of the school year, students will need to complete three journal entries every week, The topics will be posted here and on Google Classroom and will be due each Thursday. 

Before each story, you will complete a journal entry that gets you thinking.  All entries will be graded at the end of the trimester. Please keep these all together in your journal in Google Classroom or on theme paper. List the date and the prompt and then answer the prompt in complete sentences. The template for the journal is also located in Google Classroom.  

Journal Topics

Third Trimester Journal Topics

Week of 5/11

1. Describe one or two really awkward moments in your life. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

2. What are three professions or jobs that you think are very important? Why? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

3. What are you skeptical, or questioning and unsure about? Why? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. What do you believe your purpose is in life? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

5. Start your entry with “Dear Diary’ and write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 5/4

Please pick three of the following topics and respond to them in your Journal document.

1. What is one goal that you have for the month of May? How can you meet this goal? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

2. Write about a time that you felt close to God.  Why did you feel close to Him and what about your experience let you know that God was with you? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

3. What is your favorite book ever? Why is this book so great? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. If you had to write a memoir (story of your life), what would the title be? Why? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.
   
   5. Start your entry with “Dear Diary’ and write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 4/27

Please pick three of the following topics and respond to them in your Journal document.

1. Finish this sentence. The best day ever was when…. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

2. Name a fictional character you would like to have as a friend. Why do you think that they would be a good friend to you? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

3. If you like to run, why do you like it? If you do not like running, why do you dislike it? What would change your mind, if anything? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. What is your favorite way to spend a nice day? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 
   
   5. Start your entry with “Dear Diary’ and write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 4/20

1. If you could talk to Mother Nature, what would you say? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

2. Have you ever written something that made you cry while writing it? What about it made you cry? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

3. Write a “thank you” note to a special person in your life. Thank them for being in your life rather than for something specific that they did. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. What do you consider to be really boring? Why? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

1. Start your entry with “Dear Diary’ and write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 3/30

1. What are your top 10 things on your “bucket list” (a list of life long goals/ dreams). You may make a list.

2. What is your opinion on how the government (local, state, national) is managing the COVID-19 virus (aka the coronavirus)? What would you do the same or  differently if you were a leader during this time? 

3. Pretend you are down the shore and at the beach. You decide to write a message in a bottle that any random stranger could find. What would you write? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. If you were to start a business right here and now, what would it be? How would you make it successful. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

5. Start your entry with “Dear Diary’ and write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 3/23

Please pick three of the following topics and respond to them in your Journal document.

1. What are the positive and negative parts of being home from school? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

2. What I Miss the Most about School is…. Finish this sentence and then explain why you have this opinion.Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

3. What are you doing at home to take care of yourself and to stay physically and mentally healthy? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 

4. What can your teachers or families do that would help you during this time to feel more supported? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. 
   5. Write about a topic of your choice. Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

3/3/2020- Poetry Unit
How do you feel about reading and writing poetry? What is the source of your like or dislike for writing and/or reading poetry? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences. For extra credit, you may write a poem.

Second Trimester Journal Topics

2/11/2020- “By Any Means Necessary”
Write about a time when you(or someone else) stood up for something that you believed in, even though it was hard to do so.

2/5/2020- "Zebra"
What is a difficult experience that you faced, and how did you heal from this experience? Your response should at least be 4-5 complete sentences.

1/14/2020- The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
What do you notice in the painting on p. 141? What is a possible story that could be told based on the painting?  Your answer should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

1/6/2019- An American Childhood
When do you feel most alive and like yourself? 

12/6/2019- A Christmas Carol
How important is money? Is it possible to be too focused on money?

First Trimester Journal Topics

Week of 10/21/2019- Thank You Ma’am
Who in your life sees the best in you? Who believes in you even when other people do not?

Week of 10/7/2019- The Last Dog
Why are pets good companions? If you have a pet, what makes your pet a good companion to you? Your response should be at least 4-5 complete sentences.

Week of 9/23- Seventh Grade
What were you most nervous about on the first day of seventh grade? Are you still nervous about it now?

Week of 9/16- The Dinner Party
Pretend that an unexpected guest comes to a party that your family is having. What would you say and do?

Journal Rubric