Call me, AJ!That’s short for Academic Journal. I’m here to help you getorganized! Use me to take notes in class and to keep track ofyour thinking. Keep up with me and be sure to take notesand write down information in class because you can use me ontests and quizzes!

Divide AJ into these sections using dividers orsticky notes:1. Vocabulary - about 30 pages2. Class Notes - about 30 pages3. Strategies - about 30 pages4. Reflections - last 5 pages • What am I learning? (list) • What have I learned? (list)5. Books I Have Read (list) - last two pages

Here’s a little more about what to write in each section:Vocabularyword of the day notesword stormslanguage collectionsvocabatoonsword wall notes

Class Notes• notes or writings about thebooks we read• notes about grammar or writing• think writes• notes on MLA format & citing sources• any notes that give you information

Strategies• any notes that tell you how to dosomething• notes on how to visualize what you reador how to connect to what you read• notes on reading strategies (predictions,questions, connections, etc)• notes on writing strategies (brainstorming,selecting a topic, generating material, etc)

Reflections• Dear Mrs. S letters about what youhave learned• your thinking about your progress• two lists: What am I learning? and What have I learned?

Books I Have Read• Keep a running list of all the booksthat you finish reading on your own this schoolyear. Remember my expectation is 25 booksfor the year!

© Adapted from Janet Allen by Lee Ann Spillane

WHAT’S MY PURPOSE ?

I want my student learners to . . .

• develop a rich word bank• develop a sense of word play• practice a variety of word attackstrategies• feel safer during tests (less test anxiety)• internalize how to prepare for tests• practice a variety of writing strategies:pre-writing, brainstorming, outlining, etc.• internalize a variety of note taking skills• develop a sense of discovery• note and practice reading strategies• build a strategies reference bank forthemselves• write, write, and write some more• develop writing fluency• practice self-assessment and self-questioning• practice recording their own learning

HOW DO I ASSESS STUDENTS?When I look at students’ AJs, I . .

• notice what they do spontaneously.Do they spontaneously write downheadings for their notes?

Or do I need review organization tips.

Do they write in “note shorthand”?

Or do I need to scaffold their notetaking by color coding what I put up forthem?

DO they refer to their AJs for answers?Or are they still dependent upon me?

• look for patterns.What kinds of notes/words are theyactually writing down?What more do they need?Are they reading different genres?Are they able to write about their ownlearning?Do they use the language of the statestandards in their reflections? Whatkinds of “teacher-language” have theyinternalized?

Clip and Paste in the front cover of your A

J!

What can you include inan Acadmemic Journal?