From the readings from this week and last week, I have learned so much about how to approach writing with my students.  After reading the articles I went to my classroom and had a discussion about writing.  Just like the articles say students want to write but do not want to be told what to write.  I explain to them that there are reasons we have to write about certain topics and how we learn from those writings.  I also explained Journal writing to my students and they were really interested in this. 

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgement will be surer.  Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.  Leonardo da Vinci

Thanks for your feed back Dr. Frye.  The comment I was talking about was the very last page of Amelia holding the good and bad baskets.  Her reflection of the year ended up being a surprise to her.  I would tell my students that unless we look back or reflect we will never learn and grow as better people.  I would explain to them it didn’t kill Amelia to write her notebook.  She learn a lot and is even excited about writing one next year in 6th grade. 

I can see how 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students would connect with this book.  It gives them a great visual of what a notebook or journal can look like or become.  Amelia’s personality is all through this book and the reader gets to know her better after reading each page.  I loved how at the end when Amelia realize she has a good life and the good out weights the bad in her life.  This notebook will connect with girls that feel they have to “fit in” and how they always feel like they don’t.  I was one of those girls in school.  Amelia made herself see the positive in her life as well as the negative and she learned from it.  Your life is a  reflection of yourself it’s just up to you to look at it and learn from the good and the bad.