Session 2B: Think and Write Prompts

These prompts may be used in a few different ways. They can be passed out to the participants at the beginning of their journal writing, and they may choose which one(s) they would like to address, based on their own individual experiences with the material they have just studied.

They may be given directions to choose one or two prompts, and choose to write to them, or they may be directed by the teacher to very specific questions for a specific response that the teacher wants to elicit from them. (ie. What made you “wonder” in this session?(could be from a reading, discussion, project etc.) Why? What confused you about the session? Why?

Most participants love to choose their own questions, because they are not being asked to respond to something they have not experienced, but ARE responding to thoughts, emotions, feelings, etc. that they HAVE experienced. It also is a private communication that should remain private. This is not meant as a whole group sharing, but a time for personal reflection. These should however, be responded to by the teacher before the next session.

Questions to direct journal writing:

Use these questions to help you write in your journals. This list is not meant to cover all of the issues that might concern you as you write, and it is meant to be used when you need a starting point for a journal entry. Your own thoughts and feelings are always the best source for your writing.

Note: If you have trouble developing your ideas in your journal try writing some of your entries nonstop. Nonstop writing (at least five minutes) will help you unlock some of your best ideas.

1. What were your feelings after reading (hearing) the story? Did it make you want to cry? smile? laugh? cringe? Explain your reaction.

2. What connections are there between what you learned today and your own life? Explain your thinking.

3. What was the best part of something you heard about today? Why? What was the worst part? Why?

4. What did you learn today about life and living through the material you read or heard? Explain.

5. What did you learn about today that seemed the most believable to your life? What was the most unbelievable? Explain your thinking.

6. What do you think was the most important word you heard today? The most important passage? Why is it important to you?

7. In what ways are you like a person or character that you heard about today? Explain. How are you unlike? Explain.

8. Do any of the people or characters you heard (read) about today remind you of anyone you know? Friends? family members? Classmates? Tell about them.

9. What person or character that you heard (read) about today would you most like to be like? What personality traits would you like to acquire? (have for yourself). Why?

10. What would you and your favorite person or character talk about in your first conversation? Begin the conversation.

11. What makes you “wonder” in this lesson? Why? What confuses you about this lesson? Why?

12. What came to you as a surprise today in anything that you read or heard? Why?

13. Has what you learned today helped you in anyway? Explain how it has helped.

14. How have you changed after today’s lessons? Did anything you read, heard, or learned help that change? Explain.

15. What questions would you like to have answered after today’s lessons?

16. Who else do you know who could benefit from learning this information? Why? Do you think you know someone who shouldn’t? Why?

17. Compare two people or characters you have learned about in this lesson(s). How are they alike? How are they unlike?