away to make your classroom a better place. i hope you find one (or two or three!) you want to try.
1. have students journal about the reading before the discussion. for example, "write a letter to the main character of our novel. ask questions about what is going on. give advice. tell him or her you opinions about what has been going on."
2. have students journal using their vocabulary words. for example, "write a story about two surfers who accidentally end up riding their surfboards across the ocean. use at least five of the words on our vocabulary list."
3. have students journal practicing the grammar or writing concepts you have 