Dialogue Journal
Title of Project: Dialogue Journal
Schools and Teachers
The Wheatley School Teacher: Tara Dennington
ENL Proficiency Level | ENL Program | Standards | Technology
Appropriate for all English Proficiency Levels | Stand-Alone | 9-10W1f, WHST2a. | Google Slides
Assessments
Teacher will use a checklist to ensure the student’s response includes the following elements: Display of prompt comprehension, response, use of BICs in response, utilization of Google Slides features.
Description
A dialogue journal is a journal that both the student and teacher write in. The purpose is to allow students to express themselves in a way that works for them. The teacher and student respond to one another in the journal, participating in a written conversation.
Content
I can participate in written dialogue.
Language
I can use BICs to communicate in writing.
Technology
I can use Google Slides to participate in a written dialogue.
Procedure
This lesson is intended to follow throughout the course of the school year. The teacher will post the Dialogue Journal template to Google Classroom and make a copy for each student. Teacher will instruct students to complete their “Daily Journal” 2-3 times a week. Teacher will write the initial prompt and students will respond using BICs. Teacher will then respond to the student after class and the pair will write back and forth. Students are free to bring up any topic that they would like to discuss with their teacher, whether it be something related to their school work or something related to their home life. Students must be able to decode what the teacher wrote and respond using content and language appropriate for the prompt.
Resources and Other Materials
Reflection
I appreciated the interactive element of the assignment and allowing students another method to express their thoughts and concerns if they are not comfortable using oral language. I noticed that student responses to the activity were varied. The students each appreciated different aspects of the activity. Some liked having the opportunity to express themselves in writing, some liked the privacy that the activity allowed them, and some like the aesthetic options they had using Google Slides. Overall, the activity has greatly benefited the social-emotional development of my students.