Developed by Mr.

Rice, 2
nd
Grade
Teacher, Pittsburgh, PA
With the implementation of the rigorous
Common Core Standards, it is important that
students learn how to answer difficult
questions in writing at an early age. These
daily journal prompt questions correspond
with the stories in the Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt Journeys series for 2
nd
grade. The
questions for each story are based on
Blooms Taxonomy, and are scaffolded by
difficulty, starting with a comprehension
question on the first day of the lesson, then
moving to application, analyzing, evaluating,
and synthesizing. Enjoy!
Always writing in paragraph form (indent).
Begin with a topic sentence that restates the
question, and end with a closing sentence.
Your journals should be at least 6 sentences long.
Be sure to proofread for spelling and punctuation,
and make sure it makes sense. You are not finished
until you correct any mistakes.
Use your neatest handwriting.
When sharing with the class, use a loud speaking
voice.
When others are sharing, listen quietly.
Day 1- Understanding
In Mr. Tanens Tie Trouble the people
of the town have to find a way to get
money to build a new playground. Tell
about a time when you or someone you
know helped to raise money for
something.
Day 2- Applying
How would the information in Mr.
Tanens Tie Trouble help you to figure
out a plan to raise money to build a new
playground at your school? What could
you do differently than they did in the
story?
Day 3- Analyzing
What do you think Mr. Tanen thought
about before deciding to sell his ties in
a town auction?
Day 4- Evaluating
What would you recommend to Mr. Tanen if
he came to you and asked you how your
school could raise money for a new
playground?
Day 5- Synthesizing
What plan could you propose to Mr.
Tanen if he refused to sell his ties, but
still needed money for a playground?
Day 1- Understanding
Luke Goes to Bat is a story about a boy
who wants to give up playing baseball,
but is inspired to keep playing after
watching a game. When was a time that
you were inspired by another person?
Day 2- Applying
How would you use what you learned
in Luke Goes to Bat to help a friend
who wanted to quit an activity?
Day 3- Analyzing
What was Grandmas motive, or reason,
for taking Luke to the Dodgers game at
Ebbets field?
Day 4- Evaluating
What choice would you have made if
you were Luke, and other kids teased
you for striking out in a baseball
game?
Day 5- Synthesizing
How would the story have been
different if Lukes grandmother
never took him to the baseball game
at Ebbets field?
Day 1- Understanding
Take a picture walk through My
Name is Gabriela. What can you
conclude about the main character,
Gabriela? What are some of her
characteristics?
Day 2- Applying
What facts from the story could you
use to show that Gabriela is a
creative character?
Day 3- Analyzing
How can you compare and contrast
the characteristics of Gabriela
from My Name is Gabriela to
Luke in Luke Goes to Bat?
Day 4- Evaluating
Why do you think Gabriela chose to
become a teacher and a writer when
she grew up?
Day 5- Synthesizing
Suppose you could interview Gabriela
as an adult. What would you ask her?
Day 1- Understanding
In The Signmakers Assistant, a boy
named Normal caused chaos in his
town by playing tricks on people.
When is a time that you or someone
you know made others mad by playing
tricks on them?
Day 2- Application
What facts from The Signmakers
Assistant could you use to prove that
Norman was sorry for creating the fake
signs?
Day 3- Analyzing
What conclusions can you make about
Norman? About the signmaker? About
the people in the town?
Day 4- Evaluating
Do you believe that Norman is a bad or
evil character? Tell why or why not.
Day 5- Synthesizing
If you were helping Norman create
fake signs, what signs would you have
made, and where would you have put
them? What would the result of this
be?
Day 1- Understanding
Take a picture walk through
Dex: The Heart of a Hero.
What is the genre of this story?
How do you know? What other
stories have you read that are
also this genre?
Day 2- Applying
How would you characterize Dex?
How would you characterize
Cleevis? Tell what character traits
they have that are alike and what
traits are different.
Day 3- Analyzing
What is a major theme or lesson in
Dex: The Heart of a Hero. Tell
how you know that this theme or
lesson exists.

Day 4- Evaluating
Based on what you have read,
why do you think Dex chose to
save Cleevis from the tree, even
though Cleevis teased him?
Day 5- Synthesizing
If you could adapt this story to
turn it into a true (nonfiction)
story about people instead of
animals, what would you make
the story about?