Call me, AJ! WHAT’S MY PURPOSE ?

That’s short for Academic Journal. I’m here to help you get
organized! Use me to take notes in class and to keep track of I want my student learners to . . .
your thinking. Keep up with me and be sure to take notes
and write down information in class because you can use me on • develop a rich word bank
tests and quizzes! • develop a sense of word play
• practice a variety of word attack
Divide AJ into these sections using dividers or strategies
sticky notes: • feel safer during tests (less test anxiety)
1. Vocabulary - about 30 pages • internalize how to prepare for tests
2. Class Notes - about 30 pages • practice a variety of writing strategies:
3. Strategies - about 30 pages pre-writing, brainstorming, outlining, etc.
4. Reflections - last 5 pages • internalize a variety of note taking skills
• What am I learning? (list) • develop a sense of discovery
• What have I learned? (list) • note and practice reading strategies

Clip and Paste in the front cover of your AJ!

5. Books I Have Read (list) - last two pages
Here’s a little more about what to write in each section:
Vocabulary
word of the day notes
word storms
language collections
vocabatoons
word wall notes
Class Notes
• notes or writings about the
books 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 do
something
• notes on how to visualize what you read
or 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 you
have 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 books
that you finish reading on your own this school
year. Remember my expectation is 25 books
for the year!
© Adapted from Janet Allen by Lee Ann Spillane
• build a strategies reference bank for
themselves
• 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 down
headings for their notes?
Or do I need review organization tips.
Do they write in “note shorthand”?
Or do I need to scaffold their note
taking by color coding what I put up for
them?
DO they refer to their AJs for answers?
Or are they still dependent upon me?
• look for patterns.
What kinds of notes/words are they
actually writing down?
What more do they need?
Are they reading different genres?
Are they able to write about their own
learning?
Do they use the language of the state
standards in their reflections? What
kinds of “teacher-language” have they
internalized?
What can you include in
an Acadmemic Journal?