5 Ideas for Reading Journals for Easy and Fun Writing (2024)

Ideas for Reading Journals: Gifted & High Achieving Students

Gifted learners, especially those gifted in reading and language arts, often need more engaging and challenge assignments to prevent boredom and complacency. These 5 ideas for reading journals for gifted students can help you challenge your strong readers.

How do you easily enrich reading assignments for gifted learners?

The simple answer- creative literacy. What is “creative literacy”? It’s the idea that reading, writing, speaking and listening can be taught and practiced through creative lessons and activities. Allowing students a creative spin in traditional content areas can deepen their thinking through analyzing, synthesizing and producing.

One simple way to incorporate creative literacy in the classroom is through unique reading journals. Journaling provides a space for students to process their thinking in a personal way. This means students can make deep, relative connections to their reading.

5 Ideas for Reading Journals to Support Gifted Learners

1- Digital Journals

The landscape of education is quickly changing. Our students are learning to adapt and flow between traditional and digital classroom environments. One way to ease transitions is by incorporating digital resources in both classroom settings.

There are countless ways to utilize a digital reading journals for gifted students in your classroom. However, the most effective ways are simple and provide routine.

3 Ways to Incorporate Digital Reading Journals

Use a basic digital organizer with a physical book- Provide students with a set template of 2 or 3 reading organizers to use. You can use Google Slides or an editable PDF. As students read, they can respond by typing in the organizer.
Provide a question set students can use with any book- create 8-10 set questions that could apply to any book and post the questions in your Google Classroom as a “material”. Then, students can then choose from the question list and respond in an ongoing Google document.
Use a pre-formatted reading journal like the one I’ve created- these reading journals provide students with specific pages to complete based on skills, genres, topics and more. Check out the journal I created that provides practice for multiple reading strategies, seasonal choice boards, sections for reading goals and more.

2- Conversation Journals

My gifted students love to talk. Over the years, I’ve found ways to support the need for conversation through group work and collaboration. However, in our current health pandemic, I don’t feel comfortable putting students in discussion groups.

Classroom Management Tips for Conversation Journals

Pre-plan the area for students to store/pick up reading journals
Create 3-4 “rules of engagement” to prevent off topic conversations and wasted time
Set a specific day for students to drop off and pick up journals. Give enough time for journals to be quarantined for 24 hours between students.
Discuss “what if” scenarios with students. What if … you didn’t read the book your partner did? … you don’t agree with someone’s opinion? … the other person didn’t follow the rules of engagement?

3- Multi-media Reading Journals

Reading journals for gifted students aren’t limited to paper and pencil. Multi-media reading journals can encourage creativity, exploration and “outside the box” thinking by incorporating various materials.

When I think of Multi-media journals, I think of using multiple arts & crafts supplies in one notebook. Students can use paints, scrap paper, stickers, photos and other materials to create collages and designs to showcase their thinking.

5 Ideas for Reading Journals for Easy and Fun Writing (1)

When incorporating multi-media reading journals in your classroom, consider setting aside a special place for crafting. I have a mini maker space with scrap paper, paper bags, magazines and other craft material my students can use.

5 Ideas for Reading Journals for Easy and Fun Writing (2)

One of my favorite ideas for reading journals is to use multi-media reading journals as homework. Assign students a topic or skill for the week and allow them to work on their design at home. They can share their creation in class or snap a photo to share with you.

4- Doodle Notes in Interactive Notebooks

I love interactive notebooks! If you’re already using these in your classroom with all students, this reading journal option will be an easy transition. You can incorporate doodles on your planned interactive pages or set aside notebook pages just for notes.

Note taking while reading is important for comprehension. Doodle notes, or sketch notes, are a great way for students to respond to their reading by drawing little images, bubble words, arrows, and more.

3 Options for Incorporating Doodle Notes

Encourage students to review instruction notes by illustrating them.
Assign doodle notes as a reading response prompt.
Create vocabulary doodle pages for challenging words in fiction & non-fiction texts.

Think of doodle notes like personalized anchor charts for each student. Now, imagine the comprehension power you can create when interactive notebooks & doodles notes are combined!

5- Photo Essays Collection Journal

Reading journals for gifted students don’t have to focus strictly on writing as a form of response. Allowing students to take or find photos to represent their ideas can encourage deep thinking about themes, moods, or over arching ideas.

Need to know more about photo essays, first? Check out this MasterClass guide.

In addition, students can create physical and/or digital photo collections. This means their journal can easily transition from face-to-face learning to virtual learning, and back again.

5 Ideas for Reading Journals for Easy and Fun Writing (3)

Finally, this type of reading journal is a great way to differentiate for learners. Think of your students who aren’t strong writers, have trouble with verbal processing, or are gifted and aspiring photographers.