Writing in Your Journal
Writing in a daily journal will help you vastly improve your writing! We will practice our writing everyday, to help you feel more confident and help you progress in your writing skills. We will practice a vast number of writing examples to expose you to as many different types of writing as possible. This journal is for you to keep (I will not collect it), to see yourself grow, and look back at what we learned this Summer!
Every completed journal entry will earn a raffle ticket for a grand prize at the end of the session!
Every completed journal entry will earn a raffle ticket for a grand prize at the end of the session!
Daily Journal Entries
#33 / #16A - Monday, 08/01
Write a letter to your classmate. In your letter, include the following information:
Dear ____________________, (leave this blank for now)
What are 3 things that you will always remember from taking this Summer Session?
What are 3 ways they can practice at home to continue to study English?
What are 3 things you can tell them if they ever feel they want to quit?
Don't forget the main parts of your letter!
(date, opening, body, closing, signature)
Write a letter to your classmate. In your letter, include the following information:
Dear ____________________, (leave this blank for now)
What are 3 things that you will always remember from taking this Summer Session?
What are 3 ways they can practice at home to continue to study English?
What are 3 things you can tell them if they ever feel they want to quit?
Don't forget the main parts of your letter!
(date, opening, body, closing, signature)
#32 / #15A - Thursday, 07/28
How do you feel today? Nervous? Excited? Scared? Confident? Eager? etc... Why?
How can preparing this speech prepare you for other parts of your life?
How will you feel after your TED Talk?
How do you feel today? Nervous? Excited? Scared? Confident? Eager? etc... Why?
How can preparing this speech prepare you for other parts of your life?
How will you feel after your TED Talk?
#30 / #13A - Tuesday, 07/26
Let's brainstorm some ideas for your speech on Thursday!
1) Introduction
- What will you talk about?
2) Give the reason why.
- Why do you care about this topic?
- Why is it interesting?
3) List your research.
- What have you read, seen, and heard about it?
4) Give your ideas/opinions
- What do you think about it?
- Why is it a problem / issue? What would you do to solve it?
5) Conclude
- Summarize your main idea.
Let's brainstorm some ideas for your speech on Thursday!
1) Introduction
- What will you talk about?
2) Give the reason why.
- Why do you care about this topic?
- Why is it interesting?
3) List your research.
- What have you read, seen, and heard about it?
4) Give your ideas/opinions
- What do you think about it?
- Why is it a problem / issue? What would you do to solve it?
5) Conclude
- Summarize your main idea.
#29 / #12A - Monday, 07/25
What has been your favorite thing to learn about so far in this class? In ANY ESL class? Why? - ideas: - verb tenses - practicing reading - journal / writing - review games - practicing listening - etc. ! - conversation cards - idioms What is your favorite thing about learning English? How has learning English changed your life? |
#28 / #11A - Thursday, 07/21
What is your overall goal for English? Do you want to be a proficient speaker/writer/listener/reader? Do you want to sound like a native speaker? Do you want to earn a degree in school? Do you want to work toward career? What do you expect to happen when you are completely finished with your ESL classes?
What is your overall goal for English? Do you want to be a proficient speaker/writer/listener/reader? Do you want to sound like a native speaker? Do you want to earn a degree in school? Do you want to work toward career? What do you expect to happen when you are completely finished with your ESL classes?
#26 / #9A - Tuesday, 07/19
Who does the grocery shopping in your household?
Do you usually practice in English?
Have you had any bad / good experiences at the checkout / cash register?
Is it always easy to checkout? What happens?
Who does the grocery shopping in your household?
Do you usually practice in English?
Have you had any bad / good experiences at the checkout / cash register?
Is it always easy to checkout? What happens?
#25 / #8A - Monday, 07/18
What do you know about idioms?
Idioms:
Here are some idioms to start to practice with - what do you think they mean? Write your guesses in your journal.
She is the apple of my eye.
We have a bun in the oven!
He is a bad egg.
What idioms are you familiar with? Do you use them often? What do they mean?
What do you know about idioms?
Idioms:
Here are some idioms to start to practice with - what do you think they mean? Write your guesses in your journal.
She is the apple of my eye.
We have a bun in the oven!
He is a bad egg.
What idioms are you familiar with? Do you use them often? What do they mean?
# 24 / #7A - Thursday, 07/14
Today's journal entry will be a little different! Write one word for each number.
1) adjective
2) your name
3) your name
4) object / thing
5) adjective
6) number
7) adjective
8) your name
9) adjective
10) boy's name
11) person who uses magic
12) animal
13) emotion
14) musical instrument
15) exclamation
16) your name
17) adjective
18) adjective
Today's journal entry will be a little different! Write one word for each number.
1) adjective
2) your name
3) your name
4) object / thing
5) adjective
6) number
7) adjective
8) your name
9) adjective
10) boy's name
11) person who uses magic
12) animal
13) emotion
14) musical instrument
15) exclamation
16) your name
17) adjective
18) adjective
Once upon a time, there was a 1)_________ adventurer named 2) ____________. 3) ________ was on their way home from a heroic quest where they saved a 4) __________from a burning building! Amazing!
Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone (or something!) crying.
The 5) _________ adventurer, who was always willing to help others, decided to go and investigate!
After searching through the forest for 6) ___________ minutes, the 7)__________ adventurer finally found a cave, just large enough for a small creature or child to squeeze into. The crying seemed to be coming from inside, so the adventurer knelt down and called into the cave, “Hello! My name is 8)_________, and I am a/an 9) __________ adventurer! I will save you from your trouble! Tell me, why are you crying? The crying stopped, and soon after a voice said, “My name is 10) ___________, and I used to be a little boy, but an evil 11) __________ turned me into a 12) ___________! Now I can never return home!” The adventurer felt very 13) _________ when they heard this story.
Then, the adventurer raised his finger in the air, “I know what to do!” The adventurer played a song on their magical 14) ____________ and the spell was broken!
So the little boy said 15) “____________,” and 16) ______________, the 17) ____________ adventurer rode off on their horse to their next 18) ____________ quest!
Once upon a time, there was a 1)_________ adventurer named 2) ____________. 3) ________ was on their way home from a heroic quest where they saved a 4) __________from a burning building! Amazing!
Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone (or something!) crying.
The 5) _________ adventurer, who was always willing to help others, decided to go and investigate!
After searching through the forest for 6) ___________ minutes, the 7)__________ adventurer finally found a cave, just large enough for a small creature or child to squeeze into. The crying seemed to be coming from inside, so the adventurer knelt down and called into the cave, “Hello! My name is 8)_________, and I am a/an 9) __________ adventurer! I will save you from your trouble! Tell me, why are you crying? The crying stopped, and soon after a voice said, “My name is 10) ___________, and I used to be a little boy, but an evil 11) __________ turned me into a 12) ___________! Now I can never return home!” The adventurer felt very 13) _________ when they heard this story.
Then, the adventurer raised his finger in the air, “I know what to do!” The adventurer played a song on their magical 14) ____________ and the spell was broken!
So the little boy said 15) “____________,” and 16) ______________, the 17) ____________ adventurer rode off on their horse to their next 18) ____________ quest!
#23 / #6A - Wednesday, 07/13
You may work together with your group for this journal entry.
You may work together with your group for this journal entry.
Write a "Help Wanted" ad for someone from your fairy tale.
Little Red Riding Hood - Caregiver for Grandmother
Jack and the Beanstalk - Caregiver for Mother
Extra Help around the Ranch/Farm
The Emperor's New Clothes - New Tailor Wanted
Hansel and Gretel - Construction Worker (to repair/ build house of candy)
Little Red Riding Hood - Caregiver for Grandmother
Jack and the Beanstalk - Caregiver for Mother
Extra Help around the Ranch/Farm
The Emperor's New Clothes - New Tailor Wanted
Hansel and Gretel - Construction Worker (to repair/ build house of candy)
#22 / #5A - Tuesday, 07/12
"Using the leaves and twisty vines like the rungs of a ladder, Jack climbed and climbed until at last, he reached the sky. And when he got there he found a long, broad road winding its way through the clouds to a tall, square castle off in the distance. Jack ran up the road toward the castle and just as he reached it, the door swung open to reveal a horrible lady giant, with one great eye in the middle of her forehead..." - _____________
"Using the leaves and twisty vines like the rungs of a ladder, Jack climbed and climbed until at last, he reached the sky. And when he got there he found a long, broad road winding its way through the clouds to a tall, square castle off in the distance. Jack ran up the road toward the castle and just as he reached it, the door swung open to reveal a horrible lady giant, with one great eye in the middle of her forehead..." - _____________
Describe a dwelling from your fairy tale (exterior and interior).
- Who lives there?
- How many rooms does it have?
- Does it have any furniture?
- What is the dwelling made of?
#21 / #4A - Monday, 07/11
Do you know the story of Cinderella and the Glass Slipper?
Once upon a time, a young woman without a father was raised by an evil step-mother and two step-sisters. The King and Prince threw a grand party, and everyone was invited. However, Cinderella was forbidden to go by her step-mother. Cinderella's fairy godmother transformed her into a beautiful princess. Cinderella went to the ball and the Prince fell in love with her. As she was leaving, she left behind a glass slipper. The Prince used this glass slipper to find Cinderella again. When he found her, they were married, and they lived happily ever after!
Re-write the story of Cinderella, but make it modern! You may work with a partner.
Perhaps: Christina and the Lost Cell Phone! or Carolina and the Lost Black Pump!
Do you know the story of Cinderella and the Glass Slipper?
Once upon a time, a young woman without a father was raised by an evil step-mother and two step-sisters. The King and Prince threw a grand party, and everyone was invited. However, Cinderella was forbidden to go by her step-mother. Cinderella's fairy godmother transformed her into a beautiful princess. Cinderella went to the ball and the Prince fell in love with her. As she was leaving, she left behind a glass slipper. The Prince used this glass slipper to find Cinderella again. When he found her, they were married, and they lived happily ever after!
Re-write the story of Cinderella, but make it modern! You may work with a partner.
Perhaps: Christina and the Lost Cell Phone! or Carolina and the Lost Black Pump!
#20 / #3A - Thursday, 07/07
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, near a sparkling stream, a young woman had her nose buried in an interesting book. Suddenly, something fell from the sky and hit the ground a few feet away from her. Then it made a loud, cracking sound! She went to investigate it, and found ...
What happened next? What fell from the sky? Finish the story! |
#19 / 2A - Wednesday, 07/06
Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, the King and Queen were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. And throughout the land, everyone was happy - until the sun went down, and they saw that their daughter was cursed with a frightful enchantment that took hold each and every night. Desperate, they sought the help of a fairy godmother who had them lock the young princess away in a tower - there to await the kiss of the handsome Prince Charming...
What is a fairy tale? Do you have any fairy tales from your country? Why are fairy tales important? Do they teach us any lessons? Write down a fairy tale that you remember.
#18/1A - Tuesday, 07/05
Take a look back in your notebooks and in your journals.
Take a look back in your notebooks and in your journals.
- What has been your favorite thing to learn about so far? What has been your favorite classroom activity/game?
- What has been the most difficult thing to learn about so far? What was your least favorite classroom activity/game?
- What are you most looking forward to learning about in this class? What is one thing you would like to focus on for this next session (a goal, an obstacle, pronunciation, conversation, grammar, etc.)?
- Write about your 4th of July weekend!
#17 - Thursday, 06/30
Decisions, decisions! What kind of person do you want to decide to be? What kind of student do you want to decide to be?
What would happen if you continued to come to class? What would happen if you stopped coming to class? What will happen if you speak more English outside of the classroom? What will happen if you don't try to speak English outside of the classroom?
Decisions, decisions! What kind of person do you want to decide to be? What kind of student do you want to decide to be?
What would happen if you continued to come to class? What would happen if you stopped coming to class? What will happen if you speak more English outside of the classroom? What will happen if you don't try to speak English outside of the classroom?
#16 - Wednesday, 06/29
Let's imagine for a minute! Choose ONE topic to write about in your journal.
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#15 - Tuesday, 06/28
Imagine you are running in the election for the new President of the United States! What promises will you make to ensure people vote for you? What other changes will you make for this country? How can we improve this country? What do you believe in?
examples:
Imagine you are running in the election for the new President of the United States! What promises will you make to ensure people vote for you? What other changes will you make for this country? How can we improve this country? What do you believe in?
examples:
- If I am elected President, I will....
- If you vote for me, I will .....
- etc.
#14 - Monday, 06/27
Write about a time in your life when you had to make a very difficult decision. What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
Some helpful questions:
Write about a time in your life when you had to make a very difficult decision. What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
Some helpful questions:
- How did you feel? What kinds of emotions do you remember?
- Would you stand by your decision, or would you choose to go in a different direction?
- What has this experience taught you? Have you used these lessons to make other big decisions?
#13 - Thursday, 06/23
Think about the year 2075. What do you predict about the future? Some ideas -
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#12 - Wednesday, 06/22
What does your house look like? What makes your house a home? Can you describe it as well as Mark Twain?
Be sure to include:
What does your house look like? What makes your house a home? Can you describe it as well as Mark Twain?
Be sure to include:
- Great Topic Sentence
- Adjectives / adverbs
- Sensory Details
- (remember the cheeseburger paragraph!)
#11 - Tuesday, 06/21
Choose ONE topic sentence, and write the rest of the paragraph. Continue to write 2-3 paragraphs.
- My family is the greatest because....
- Next year, I will ....
- The last time I laughed really hard was ....
Choose ONE topic sentence, and write the rest of the paragraph. Continue to write 2-3 paragraphs.
- My family is the greatest because....
- Next year, I will ....
- The last time I laughed really hard was ....
#10 - Monday, 06/20
A young woman went to a movie with her boyfriend. As they were driving home, her boyfriend turned to her and said, "I'm going to take you to a place where they have the best diamond rings in the world!" The woman was excited. Her boyfriend was going to buy her a diamond ring! A few minutes later, her boyfriend pulled into the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant. When he ordered the food, the woman realized that her boyfriend hadn't said "the best diamond rings." He had said "the best _______________ rings."
It is difficult to practice speaking English when English is not your first language. Have you ever had a misunderstanding / misinterpretation with someone? Imagine you were trying to say or describe something, and the person misunderstood you, or had a very difficult time understanding you. Describe your experience in your journal. What happened? How did that experience make you feel? What can you do next time?
A young woman went to a movie with her boyfriend. As they were driving home, her boyfriend turned to her and said, "I'm going to take you to a place where they have the best diamond rings in the world!" The woman was excited. Her boyfriend was going to buy her a diamond ring! A few minutes later, her boyfriend pulled into the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant. When he ordered the food, the woman realized that her boyfriend hadn't said "the best diamond rings." He had said "the best _______________ rings."
It is difficult to practice speaking English when English is not your first language. Have you ever had a misunderstanding / misinterpretation with someone? Imagine you were trying to say or describe something, and the person misunderstood you, or had a very difficult time understanding you. Describe your experience in your journal. What happened? How did that experience make you feel? What can you do next time?
#9 -Thursday, 06/16:
Imagine you are on a beautiful and much needed vacation! Write a postcard to a friend/family member/whoever you'd like to write to.
Answer the Wh- questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How - in your postcard!
Describe the weather, the location, the food, and activities you might have done on your vacation. Add anything else to "spice" up your postcard!
Imagine you are on a beautiful and much needed vacation! Write a postcard to a friend/family member/whoever you'd like to write to.
Answer the Wh- questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How - in your postcard!
Describe the weather, the location, the food, and activities you might have done on your vacation. Add anything else to "spice" up your postcard!
#8 - Wednesday, 06/15:
Write a thank you letter! Perhaps you just received a beautiful present from a friend. Perhaps you want to thank someone for attending your wedding, or a party, or a graduation. Perhaps your daughter/son received a scholarship for their college. etc. etc. It's up to you!
Write a thank you letter! Perhaps you just received a beautiful present from a friend. Perhaps you want to thank someone for attending your wedding, or a party, or a graduation. Perhaps your daughter/son received a scholarship for their college. etc. etc. It's up to you!
#7 - Tuesday, 06/14: Write a letter to a friend. Tell them what is different about this country - ex: community, safety, comfort, opportunities, etc. Add anything else you would like to tell them!
#6 - Monday, 06/13:
Choose ONE sentence... Create a descriptive story from one sentence. Add adjectives, adverbs, and other details to make an interesting and captivating story. Answer the questions : Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
- The crowd loudly cheered.
- Her hands were covered in paint.
- The meal smelled delicious.
Choose ONE sentence... Create a descriptive story from one sentence. Add adjectives, adverbs, and other details to make an interesting and captivating story. Answer the questions : Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
- The crowd loudly cheered.
- Her hands were covered in paint.
- The meal smelled delicious.
#5 - Thursday, 06/09:
ONLY choose ONE topic:
- Describe your favorite season. Tell what kinds of things you like to do during that season.
- Have you ever won a competition? What was it for? How did you win?
- What is the best thing about learning English? OR What is the worst thing about learning English?
ONLY choose ONE topic:
- Describe your favorite season. Tell what kinds of things you like to do during that season.
- Have you ever won a competition? What was it for? How did you win?
- What is the best thing about learning English? OR What is the worst thing about learning English?
#4 - Wednesday, 06/08:
Choose ONE topic:
- Describe a place you will never forget.
- Describe a memorable celebration.
- Describe someone you respect deeply.
- Describe an interesting neighbor you have had.
Choose ONE topic:
- Describe a place you will never forget.
- Describe a memorable celebration.
- Describe someone you respect deeply.
- Describe an interesting neighbor you have had.
#3 - Tuesday, 06/07: How would you describe your personality? What are your character traits? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
#2 - Monday, 06/06: What do you like to do in your free time? How do you learn best? What kind of learner do you think you are - adventurous, artistic, athletic, mathematical, musical, quiet, social, verbal, or kinesthetic? Are you a mixture of different types? Why do you think you are that kind of learner?
#1 - Thursday, 06/02: Write about something that is very important to you.
Personal (Narrative)
Personal information can be anything about you, your family, any experiences that you have had. This will be the most common topic for many of our journal entries.
Fictional (Descriptive)
I will often give you fictional writing prompts - these are stories that you create and imagine. "What if..."?
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Business (formal)
Business letters include writing letters for work, job interviews, cover letters, letters of complaint, letters for school, and several others.
Vocabulary
Often I will ask you to create a story using the vocabulary we covered in class.
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Essays/for exams
We will learn how to write for different types of formal writing, including structured essays and writing for exams.
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Expository (Informative)
This kind of writing is most commonly seen online in articles and magazines. This is mainly for information, facts, explanations, and examples.
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