Final Thoughts

Although I am officially finished collecting data for my reading response journals, Green and Blue are not happy and in denial.  On Monday I explained to them that we were finished and they no longer had to write in their journals.  We also set a date to eat lunch as a thank you (this made them VERY excited!).  I gave them their journal to write one last response... What are your thoughts on Reading Response Journals?  Here are the responses I got:
Yellow

 Green



 Blue



Based on the responses, it is clear that as I have been saying, Blue and Green were much more involved with the RRJs.  They were able to think beyond the book and see that there was a meaning beyond writing about a character or the plot.  I am not sure whether I will use RRJs in this way again in 2nd grade unless I am using them with a reading group that is performing at a 3/4 reading level.  In 2nd grade, the content focuses on teaching students all of the skills to become a successful reader, in the intermediate, students work on applying the skills more to what they are reading.  But... in conclusion... Blue said he thought I should get an A+ on my project!  YAH!