Anyone have their kids journal? Do they do it just for fun, or is it purposeful?

Blessings,
Christine

I have my daughter write in a journal. We usually do it once a week. More is she wants. I just want her to get into the habit of writing. She gets frustrated at not being able to write in cursive they way she thinks she should. It is always encouraging to her to see how she is progressing when she looks back at something she has written a few months previously.

Hi Christine!
I have experience with journaling with our kids. We have two who are very different in ability as well as interest. Early on, I introduced journaling to them, and our daughter took off writing and writing which has proven to benefit her greatly in that I have used a book to guide me in teaching her the needed English rules one at a time based upon her needs. We worked this for one year and while continuing to journal,we added Easy Grammar for a year then Shurely English last year, and this year we will go back to journaling using a book a friend of mine wrote called Monthly English Daily Journal by Julia A. Laffoon-Jackson. I know the author personally, and she introduced me to her book about three years ago when we first began journaling. My children were young and while they journaled, it has been later that while continuing to journal that we see the fruit of the idea of teaching writing and English by allowing the child to gain a love of writing by lots of praise and encouragement and offering instruction on ONE English rule at a time to be practiced over a month for mastery. Spelling lists are developed this way as well. I am excited to be going back to this method in a more formal way as we will see the progress of the past years journaling unfold. I had never heard of journaling, which Mrs. Laffoon-Jackson introduced to our family. Our son at the time of introduction was not ready for in depth journaling, but he did copy work and now will journal this year as well. The author also gives a script for teaching the English rules to the child which is very helpful in this easy and nurturing style of mastery.
I hope that this helps give some info on journaling. We have also used it for Bible devotions in the format of Hold That Thought Devotional cd which gives numerous topics such as Christmas, Temptation, Prayer and many many others with multiple Bible based daily work sheets printable by computer for a gorgeous notebook of journaling for the child to have when completed that year. The HTT cd has beautiful borders and artwork in a classical style to complement the journal itself. Some of the topics are several weeks long in length, while others are a week of activities. Each day is different and challenges critical thinking, prayer and contemplation of the Scripture, all good things for a journal to enhance not only writing but the spiritual walk as well.
blessings
cheryl

This message has been edited. Last edited by: queenamia,

How do we get a copy of the journaling book? I couldn't find it on CBD or Amazon.

The author is a friend of mine. She wrote it several years ago, and as far as I know it's not been marketed anywhere but perhaps locally within her homeschool group early on...but it's good. I plan to talk to her tonight and will ask her if she has more...she might.
cheryl

Well, I guess I am assuming you are interested in the English rule teaching one...or the devotional cd? Since you said book I assumed the English. I will ask and post what she tells me...