Model a journal entry
After a read-aloud, fill in a journal page in front of the class, thinking out loud: "What was my favorite part? Why?" Then kids write their own. A quick model shows them exactly what a good response looks like.
Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withReading Response JournalWorksheetsOpen it →























