Journal Keeping with Young People:

200 Pages·1991·4.57 MB·English

by  Barbara Steiner

JOURNAL KEEPING
with
YOUNG PEOPLE
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JOURNAL KEEPING
with
YOUNG PEOPLE
Barbara Steiner
and
Kathleen C. Phillips
Illustrated by Robert B. Phillips
1991
TEACHER IDEAS PRESS
A Division of
Libraries Unlimited, Inc.
Englewood, Colorado
Copyright ® 1991 Barbara Steiner and Kathleen C. Phillips
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of the publisher. An exception is made for
individual library media specialists and teachers who may make
copies of activity sheets for classroom use in a single school. Other
portions of the book (up to 15 pages) may be copied for in-service
programs or other educational programs in a single school.
TEACHER IDEAS PRESS
A Division of Libraries Unlimited, Inc.
P.O. Box 6633
Englewood, CO 80155-6633
1-800-237-6124
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Steiner, Barbara A.
Journal keeping with young people / Barbara Steiner and Kathleen
C. Phillips : illustrated by Robert B. Phillips.
xiii, 185 p. 17x25 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87287-872-4
1. Language arts (Elementary) 2. Diaries-Author ship. 3. English
language-Composition and exercises-Study and teaching.
I. Phillips, Kathleen C. II. Title.
LB1576.S788 1991
372.6-dc20 91-8766
CIP
To Phyllis A. Whitney
Who, whether she has known it or not,
has been mentor for both of us since
the beginning of our writing careers
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Contents
Preface xi
1 WHY KEEP A JOURNAL? 1
A Place to Personalize History 2
A Place for Self-Discovery and Self-Knowledge 2
A Personal Friend and a Place to Document Your Life 3
Points to Remember 5
Suggested Reading 6
2 TECHNIQUES AND DEFINITIONS 9
Journal or Diary? 10
The Actual Book 10
Rules/No Rules 11
Other Suggestions for Journal Keepers 12
When to Write 12
Reasons to Keep a Journal 13
Review of Reasons and Ways to Keep a Journal:
A Baker's Dozen 15
The Journal in the Classroom 16
Points to Remember 18
3 THE JOURNAL RECORDS TODAY 19
Introduction 20
Purposes and Aims 21
Metaphor of Yourself 21
Drawing Yourself , 22
Introducing Yourself 23
Your Name 23
Character Traits 24
You Are Many People 25
People in Your Life Today 27
Logging in Daily Events 28
The Current Events Journal 29
Conclusion 30
Points to Remember 31
Suggested Reading 32
vii
viii / CONTENTS
4 THE JOURNAL REMEMBERS THE PAST 35
Introduction 36
Purposes and Aims 36
The Earliest Memory and Writing about It 36
Walking Backwards 38
Remembering People 40
Remembering Events 41
Remembering Personal Beliefs, Ideas, or Wishes 43
Remembering Your Family 43
Time Lines 45
Conclusion 47
Points to Remember 48
Suggested Reading 49
5 THE JOURNAL AS TIME MACHINE TO THE FUTURE 51
Introduction 52
Purposes and Aims 52
A Title for Your Life 53
Remembering the Future 54
Your Dream House, Future Work, and Success 55
Back to the Future: Part Two 56
Your Own Business 57
Setting Goals and Reaching Goals 58
Conclusion 60
Points to Remember 61
6 THE CELEBRATION JOURNAL 63
Introduction 64
Purposes and Aims 64
Your Favorite Things and Sensory Images 65
Things You Do Well 66
Happy Practice 67
Conclusion 70
Points to Remember 71
7 THE JOURNAL AS SELF-INSPECTION AND
REFLECTION 73
Introduction 74
Purposes and Aims 74
Reflections 74
The Main Character Is You 74
Personality, Attitudes, and Interests 76
Background and Environment 78
Physical Description and Abilities 79
Other Reflections 80
Making Changes 80
Book Titles Again 84
Conclusion 84
CONTENTS / ix
Points to Remember 85
Suggested Reading 86
8 USING THE JOURNAL FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS
AND MAKING DECISIONS 87
Introduction 88
Purposes and Aims 88
Facing a Problem 88
Steps in Solving a Problem 89
Decision Making 93
The Final Criterion 95
The Extra Element 96
Conclusion 97
Points to Remember 98
Suggested Reading 99
9 THE JOURNAL AS CATHARSIS 101
Introduction 102
Purposes and Aims 102
Writing at the Height of Emotion 102
High Occasions 103
Painful Experiences 105
Conclusion 112
Points to Remember 113
Suggested Reading 114
10 THE FANTASY JOURNAL 117
Introduction 118
Purposes and Aims 119
Fantasies about the Personal You 119
Rewriting the Past 120
Using Fantasy in Your Life 122
Using Fantasy to Gain Personal Power 125
Dreams, Time Fantasies, and Creative Fantasies 126
Treasure Hunting 128
Conclusion 128
Points to Remember 129
11 THE ALL-ABOUT-PEOPLE JOURNAL 131
Introduction 132
Purposes and Aims 132
Linking 132
People Are Funny 134
Weird People 134
Important People in Your Life Over Time 135
Take Your Own Census 136
People Advice 137
Conclusion 139
Points to Remember 140