Journal 1: How much have you changed since middle school? Are these good or bad changes? Why?
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Journal 2: Take the poll about current events. What do you think about the results? If you are starting this before everyone has taken the poll, do you think it is important for people to read current events? Why? Should a specific age group read them more than another?
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Journal 3: Watch this video after the bell rings. If you're in class early, write about things you really have a strong passion or drive for. What are some things you really want to accomplish in life? After the video, write about your reactions and how this might apply to your life.
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Journal 4: Freewrite OR Write a letter to our new pen-pals in Ethiopia. Introduce yourself, ask them questions, and talk about what living in America is like.
Journal 5: Describe one thing you own that is indispensable. Why this item? If you did lose it, could it ever be replaced?
Journal 6: What is the best present you've ever received? Why? Who was it from?
Journal 7: Freewrite OR Work on your letter to the pen-pals in Ethiopia.
Journal 8: What is your favorite thing to read and why? Who had the biggest influence on your reading experience?
Journal 9: Freewrite OR Finish your letter to the students in Ethiopia. Make sure you share the letter with Mrs. Baldwin at [email protected].
Journal 10: What is your favorite song and why? Also, think about your favorite musician and why they are your favorite.
Journal 11: What is your biggest pet peeve? Why? If you have more than one, please feel free to write about each.
Journal 12: What is the best advice you've ever received? Who gave it to you? Consider that it could have come from someone you know, or it could be something you read/heard/saw somewhere else.
Journal 13: What is your favorite holiday? Why? What makes it special? Also, consider writing about your favorite month or time of year.
Journal 14: If you could choose one super power, what would it be and why? How would it change your life? Do you believe that "with great power comes great responsibility?
Journal 15: Freewrite
Journal 16: How would life be different if everyone wore the same clothing? How would that change our lives?
Journal 5: Describe one thing you own that is indispensable. Why this item? If you did lose it, could it ever be replaced?
Journal 6: What is the best present you've ever received? Why? Who was it from?
Journal 7: Freewrite OR Work on your letter to the pen-pals in Ethiopia.
Journal 8: What is your favorite thing to read and why? Who had the biggest influence on your reading experience?
Journal 9: Freewrite OR Finish your letter to the students in Ethiopia. Make sure you share the letter with Mrs. Baldwin at [email protected].
Journal 10: What is your favorite song and why? Also, think about your favorite musician and why they are your favorite.
Journal 11: What is your biggest pet peeve? Why? If you have more than one, please feel free to write about each.
Journal 12: What is the best advice you've ever received? Who gave it to you? Consider that it could have come from someone you know, or it could be something you read/heard/saw somewhere else.
Journal 13: What is your favorite holiday? Why? What makes it special? Also, consider writing about your favorite month or time of year.
Journal 14: If you could choose one super power, what would it be and why? How would it change your life? Do you believe that "with great power comes great responsibility?
Journal 15: Freewrite
Journal 16: How would life be different if everyone wore the same clothing? How would that change our lives?
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Journal 17: Mrs. Baldwin is going to show you a video on YouTube today. If you are in class before the video starts, start writing about whether or not you've ever stood up for yourself. What was it like? Then, you are asked to respond to this video. Do you agree or disagree with her? Are there parts you like more than others?
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Journal 18: If you could travel around the world with anyone, who would you choose and why?
Journal 19: If you were principal of this school, what would you do and why? What would be the FIRST thing you would do?
Journal 20: Freewrite
Journal 21: "The wealthy man is the man who is much, not the one who has much." -Karl Marx Explain if you think this is true and why. Can you think of people who fit this example?
Journal 22: If you could change one or two things about yourself, what would it be and why?
Journal 23: If you were a teacher, how would you handle students not turning in their homework? Complaining about homework? Not showing up to class? Feel free to write about other ideas you might have.
Journal 24: What is the best piece of technology invented in the last 25 years? Why?
Journal 25: Freewrite
Journal 26: If you could break a Guinness Book of World Records, what would it be for?
Journal 27: Who are the three best people to get stuck in an elevator with? Who are the three worst? Why? Describe each scenario.
Journal 28: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." -Robert F. Kennedy Do you agree with this? Has there ever been a time you tried something and failed, but learned something from it? Is this advice you would give to someone else?
Journal 29: If you could have been anyone in history, who would you have been and why?
Journal 30: Freewrite
Journal 31: Write about your ideal day. Be sure to include who you would be spending it with.
Journal 32: If you were stuck on a deserted island and have an unlimited amount of any one food, what would it be and why?
Journal 33: Let's say you were given $1,000,000 to give to someone else and that money could not be spent on yourself. Who would you give it to and why? Do you have a second runner up?
Journal 19: If you were principal of this school, what would you do and why? What would be the FIRST thing you would do?
Journal 20: Freewrite
Journal 21: "The wealthy man is the man who is much, not the one who has much." -Karl Marx Explain if you think this is true and why. Can you think of people who fit this example?
Journal 22: If you could change one or two things about yourself, what would it be and why?
Journal 23: If you were a teacher, how would you handle students not turning in their homework? Complaining about homework? Not showing up to class? Feel free to write about other ideas you might have.
Journal 24: What is the best piece of technology invented in the last 25 years? Why?
Journal 25: Freewrite
Journal 26: If you could break a Guinness Book of World Records, what would it be for?
Journal 27: Who are the three best people to get stuck in an elevator with? Who are the three worst? Why? Describe each scenario.
Journal 28: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." -Robert F. Kennedy Do you agree with this? Has there ever been a time you tried something and failed, but learned something from it? Is this advice you would give to someone else?
Journal 29: If you could have been anyone in history, who would you have been and why?
Journal 30: Freewrite
Journal 31: Write about your ideal day. Be sure to include who you would be spending it with.
Journal 32: If you were stuck on a deserted island and have an unlimited amount of any one food, what would it be and why?
Journal 33: Let's say you were given $1,000,000 to give to someone else and that money could not be spent on yourself. Who would you give it to and why? Do you have a second runner up?
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Journal 34: Take the poll to the left. Once everyone has taken it, click on "View Results" and comment on them. Until everyone has taken the poll, write about your selection, and how you're going to improve. You may also wish to write about something else you need to work on for the rest of the year.
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Journal 35: What do you think about school dress codes? Uniforms?
Journal 36: What is the most important issue facing teens your age today? How should they deal with it?
Journal 37: Pretend a millionaire gives you one week, all expenses paid, no strings attached to do whatever you want. Describe that week.
Journal 36: What is the most important issue facing teens your age today? How should they deal with it?
Journal 37: Pretend a millionaire gives you one week, all expenses paid, no strings attached to do whatever you want. Describe that week.
Journal 38: If you could go back in time, what would you do and why? Consider the video Mrs. Baldwin will show you once you get started as well!
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Journal 39: If I was President of the United States...
Journal 40: Describe a time either you let someone down or when someone else let you down. What happened? How did it make you feel? Are there trust issues between the two of you now?
Journal 41: Discuss how you feel about national security. Do you think we're safe? Should we be doing something we're currently not?
Journal 42: If you had three wishes, and could not wish for more wishes, what would those three wishes be for?
Journal 43: What are some things about adults that drive you crazy?
Journal 44: "Find a job that you love doing and you will never have to work a day in your life." -Confucius What is your perfect job? Do you know anyone who has a job they love?
Journal 45: If you could invent one thing, what would it be and why?
Journal 46: Write about your siblings...if you don't have any, do you wish you did?
Journal 47: Is there anything that is bothering you today? What is it? If not, is there anything that bothers you most other days?
Journal 48: If you could, what advice would you give to incoming freshmen? Why? Your response will be delivered to the current 8th grade class, so please, be honest, appropriate and clear. You may also wish to include what the biggest change/difference for you was, things they should/should NOT do, what you were worried about last year but turned out to be nothing, etc.
Post your response here (copy and paste from your Journal):
Journal 40: Describe a time either you let someone down or when someone else let you down. What happened? How did it make you feel? Are there trust issues between the two of you now?
Journal 41: Discuss how you feel about national security. Do you think we're safe? Should we be doing something we're currently not?
Journal 42: If you had three wishes, and could not wish for more wishes, what would those three wishes be for?
Journal 43: What are some things about adults that drive you crazy?
Journal 44: "Find a job that you love doing and you will never have to work a day in your life." -Confucius What is your perfect job? Do you know anyone who has a job they love?
Journal 45: If you could invent one thing, what would it be and why?
Journal 46: Write about your siblings...if you don't have any, do you wish you did?
Journal 47: Is there anything that is bothering you today? What is it? If not, is there anything that bothers you most other days?
Journal 48: If you could, what advice would you give to incoming freshmen? Why? Your response will be delivered to the current 8th grade class, so please, be honest, appropriate and clear. You may also wish to include what the biggest change/difference for you was, things they should/should NOT do, what you were worried about last year but turned out to be nothing, etc.
Post your response here (copy and paste from your Journal):
Journal 49: What is something that makes you feel sad? Is this something you experience (sadness over this thing) on a regular basis?
Journal 50: Where do you see yourself five years from now? Why? How will you get there? Where do you see yourself in ten, fifteen or even twenty years?
Journal 51: Describe what you like about your home. Think about rooms, features, and outdoors for your response.
Journal 50: Where do you see yourself five years from now? Why? How will you get there? Where do you see yourself in ten, fifteen or even twenty years?
Journal 51: Describe what you like about your home. Think about rooms, features, and outdoors for your response.
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Journal 52: Today you will watch this video. Until it is up and running, write about meeting your goals. What do you have to do in order to meet your goals? Is a goal ever worth giving up? When is too late to meet a goal? Do you believe that sometimes, you just have to do what you believe in to meet your goals, no matter what you give up?
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Journal 53: What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
Journal 54: Who do you believe is a real-life hero? Is it someone you know personally or heard about? Are there certain criteria that a "hero" must have?
Journal 55: What do you consider to be beautiful? Why? Give examples of how you decide something is beautiful.
Journal 54: Who do you believe is a real-life hero? Is it someone you know personally or heard about? Are there certain criteria that a "hero" must have?
Journal 55: What do you consider to be beautiful? Why? Give examples of how you decide something is beautiful.
Journal 56: What are you good at? Is it something a lot of people know about? Are you planning on using your talent for anything? Mrs. Baldwin will show you a video with a musical group using their talents to entertain; they don't make a lot of money, but they sure are happy.
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Journal 57: Reflect on Teacher Theresa's talk yesterday. Think about if you'd ever join the Peace Corps, or if you'd ever want to travel to Africa. In addition, maybe you could write about how their culture/way of life is different from yours. Should they be more like us? How?
Journal 58: What are you looking forward to this summer? Why? Is there anything you're NOT looking forward to?
Journal 59: Do you think there is too much violence on TV? Why? What do you think is a result of too much violence? Should it be regulated somehow?
Journal 60: Freewrite...or, the return of complaining about freewrites.
Journal 61: Which of these three BEST describe your life right now: FUN--EXCITING--ORGANIZED? Why?
Journal 58: What are you looking forward to this summer? Why? Is there anything you're NOT looking forward to?
Journal 59: Do you think there is too much violence on TV? Why? What do you think is a result of too much violence? Should it be regulated somehow?
Journal 60: Freewrite...or, the return of complaining about freewrites.
Journal 61: Which of these three BEST describe your life right now: FUN--EXCITING--ORGANIZED? Why?
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Journal 62: We are going to watch part of this video. Until it is up and running, if you could run your own school, what would it be like? Would there be teachers? How would you get any learning done? Do you think a school run completely by students would be successful? Why?
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