Adapt and Move Forward

On the evening of my school’s limited, in-person open house just prior to the beginning of the school year, I joked with students that, “I hate trees and love to use lots of worksheets and paper for writing just to get rid of them, but students generally disagree with me, so this year I decided to go digital.” I got some funny looks, but at least one kid laughed. I’ll take what I can get. But this one goal was the only thing I knew at the time, was something I really wanted to do. I thought so much of it that I used this silly but true story from last year when my students complained that we used too much paper.

I do want a digital journal entry system this year for many other reasons than to save paper, although that really is high on the list.

My hope in having students create, maintain, and utilize a digital journal this year:

· No lost papers, journals, or excuses.

· No lugging home crates full of comp books.

· Centralized access for both teacher and student.

· The ability to offer feedback through digital conferencing.

· Open creative doors for students.

· Offer the opportunity to submit multiple assignments in one place.

· Ongoing record of progress.

· Greater opportunity for student reflection and assessment of their own work.

· Greater ability for students to practice the five basic stages of writing

· And of course, SAVE THE TREES!

I realize this is not a new concept. Teachers have been doing this for years now. But for me it is new. I was mentored and taught to use paper composition notebooks to teach writing. It has never worked the way it is supposed to.

Last spring, through Google classroom, my students used individual docs to complete assignments. This year they will maintain one single document to turn in many. I have told them it is a living, breathing document. It is their creation and therefore their responsibility. Luckily, middle school is still a time when impassioned speeches can transform and lift the importance of a humble Google doc to the highest form of literature.