Leveled Writing Journals for Easy Differentiation in the Classroom
Do you teach writing? Do you use journals in the classroom? Journaling can be a great tool to build routines, implement daily practice opportunities, facilitate communication, exposure to vocabulary and most importantly to build a portfolio to showcase progress. I am going to share with you some leveled writing journals easy differentiation in the classroom.
What is Included?
I created this resource six years ago to meet the needs of my students at that time for easy differentiation. Over the years, I added more levels to meet my new student’s needs. Because I taught a wide range of abilities, I always struggled with whole/large group activities, writing especially.
I wanted a way to include every student but at the same time make it worth their time. I didn’t want to target the students who struggled with writing the most and bore those who were independent, or even worse target the independent writers and just hand over hand prompt those emerging writers.
With that, I want to show you my differentiated writing pack that has 7 levels to make easy instruction for multiple grades or abilities in your classroom. There are 7 levels that allow for whole class journaling on the same topic. This allows staff to build vocabulary exposure and communication opportunities about the daily journal topic. Here is an example of ONE DAY below, the topic is about a moon.
I want to show you, in detail, each level that is included in the bundle. Each bundle is also sold separately if you only need one! These leveled writing journals make for easy differentiation in the classroom
Level 1: Cut and Paste
Level 1: Perfect for students who are working on letter/word identification and exposure to print but are not yet independently writing. With this level, students are still able to participate in journal time with their peers without depending on hand over hand prompting.
Level 2: Tracing
Level 2: Perfect for students who are working on correct letter formation but not yet able to write each letter independently. With this level, students trace each sentence to practice proper letter formation and color in their journal picture.
Level 3: Boxes
Level 3: Perfect for students who are working on writing letters independently but still struggle with floating letters and improper spacing. These boxes are a perfect visual guide. In this level, students will begin working on copying the journal picture to build independence with drawing too!
Level 4: Copying
Level 4: Perfect for students who are working on on writing independently. Students can copy the sentence from the model. In this level, students will draw their journal picture independently without a model.
Level 5: Fill in the Blanks
Level 5: Perfect for students who are working on extending their writing past one simple sentence. The word bank helps students put detail into their writing. Students will color the journal picture on this level.
Level 6: Build a Sentence
Level 6: Perfect for students who are working on writing a detailed sentence on their own. The sentence frame will help students to plan out their sentence and write it independently. Students will illustrate their detailed sentence.
Level 7: Independent
Level 7: Perfect for students who are able to independently write during journal time. Each journal has a question and a space for the student to independently write and illustrate their answer.
Journal Organization
Click on the image below to grab some free journal covers!
Simply determine what level is proper for each kiddo, print off some worksheets and bind into a workbook or binder. Once it is set up, you will have no planning needed for your journaling time of day.
You know your kiddos, and you can decide if you want to print the whole year or just a month at a time. When I was in the classroom I would print about 40 pages at a time and then re-assess where the kiddos were. Did they need to move up to the next level? Do they need extra practice at the same level? I’ve also had kiddos progress SO fast that I needed to move them up before they finished what I printed off, and that was just fine. I actually would recommend sending the unfinished workbook home for some extra practice at a level they have already mastered!
Journal Samples
Here are some more examples of individual days so that you can see the differentiation between the seven levels!
The purpose of this differentiated writing journal is to allow the entire class to write on the same topic and to build a community within your writing time. Everyone is included, accepted and progressing!
Writing Tools
Below are some of my favorite writing tools to use to help modify any level for your kiddo’s needs!
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