journaling, writing

Why Give Students Journal Writing Prompts?

Have you assigned journal writing assignments (prompts) to your students? While an informal and sometimes ungraded assignment, journal entries can help students develop other transferable writing skills. So, what is journal writing exactly?

Journal writing is the process of recording personal insights, reflections and questions on assigned or personal topics. Journal projects assigned in class may include student thoughts about daily experiences, reading assignments, current events or science experiments. Journal entries are a form of reflective writing, in that students can use writing assignments (or prompts) to consider and respond to something.

Often, teachers do not need one more thing to ‘plan’ for each day. That is why having a large set of writing prompts can make life so much easier for a teacher and at the same time, greatly benefit each student!

My Teaching Library has developed monthly writing prompts for journal writing for every day of the year! These selected writing prompts have been designed to help students think, create and express their own ideas and opinions on a variety of topics.

These prompts are available by month or in one large bundle!

Here are My Teaching Library’s monthly writing prompt by month:

Although each can be purchased separately, you can save 50% by purchasing the entire year in the ONE-YEAR BUNDLE!

Here are a five writing prompt examples from these products:

March 3rd – (Star Spangled Banner became the U.S. national anthem)
The Star Spangled Banner was written during the Revolution, but it didn’t become the national anthem until 1931. Some people think that it’s a great anthem. Other people think that it isn’t. What do you think? If we were to change the national anthem, what would you want to have instead? Or would you not want to change it, no matter what?

April 2nd – (Reconciliation Day)
What does reconciliation mean? Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Who is it and what caused your fall out? If not, describe a reconciliation that has occurred sometime in your life.

September 12th – (Video Games Day)
Your name is Tonette Play. You create video games for a living and you have just though of a new video game that you want to produce. Describe your game and tell why/how our game is different than other games you’ve seen before. Why do you think others would want to buy your game?

November 11th – (Veterans Day)
Veterans Day (celebrated somewhat differently as Remembrance Day in Canada, Australia and Great Britain) originally commemorated the end of World War I. In the United States, it is now a day to honor all those who serve in the military, living and dead, from all wars and during peacetime. Do you know any veterans? Write a letter to a veteran you know or, if you don’t know one, to any veteran.

December 4th – (Mary Celeste was found)
On December 4th, 1872, a British ship came across another ship, the Mary Celeste, which was drifting in the Atlantic Ocean. The Mary Celeste was sailing from New York to Genoa, Italy. The captain, his wife, their daughter and the crew of eight were all missing from the ship. They were never found and nobody knows why they left the ship. The ship still had food, water and all its cargo. What do you think happened?


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5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, Informational Text, Presidents, Reading Comprehension

A Quick Lesson on Abraham Lincoln for 5th-7th Grades

Looking for a quick lesson on Abraham Lincoln for a 5th, 6th or 7th grade classroom? Here is a product for you!

This informational resource on Abraham Lincoln is designed to give 5th – 7th graders practice reading and comprehending content area text. There are two pages of text which will cover Lincoln’s life beginning in Kentucky and progresses through his life touching on his family, his career as a lawyer, his election in 1860 and finally his death by the hands of John Wilkes Booth. After reading both the text and two charts (quick facts and fun facts), students will complete a comprehension worksheet. Finally, there is a fun postcard writing activity asking them to write to President Lincoln.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.1
Linsear Write Formula : 5.8

Suggested uses:

  • Use for a quick History or Language Arts mini-lesson
  • Give to students to supplement another lesson on Abraham Lincoln
  • Use on Presidents Day or Lincoln’s birthday


Use alone, with your current curriculum or with Abraham Lincoln | History Project


Want a similar product but for younger students? Check out – Lincoln Informational Text BUNDLE | 3rd-4th Grades

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3rd Grade, 4th Grade, American History, Informational Text, Presidents, Reading Comprehension

Learning about Abraham Lincoln – 3rd & 4th Grades

Abraham Lincoln | Informational Text and Activities

As early as 3rd and 4th grades, students should be diving in to American History. They also are needing to strengthen their ability to read and comprehend, with greater detail, content area text. This resource from My Teaching Library has been designed to not only teach students about the 16th president of the United States but to give students a chance to practice reading to comprehend informational text.

The first page of this resource is informational text. It is a 3 on the Automated Readability Index. It begins teaching about Lincoln’s his early life in Kentucky and progresses through his life touching on his family, his career as a lawyer, his presidency and finally his death by the hands of John Wilkes Booth.

After reading the text, the students have a reading comprehension worksheet, multiple choice, to test their understanding.

Next, there are two additional activities that can be used. One is a postcard writing activity and the other is a research activity.

If you like this resource for your classroom, here are other resources that you’ll love…Lincoln Memorial | Informational Text and Activities
Abraham Lincoln | History Project
Shape Book – Lincoln

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3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Informational Text, Social Studies

Social Studies Lesson: Lincoln Memorial for 3rd-4th Grades

Studying national landmarks? Perhaps you are preparing classroom activities centered around Abraham Lincoln? Here is a cross-curricular resource that is perfect to use in 3rd-4th grade classrooms and will fit into both your Social Studies and Language Arts plans.

It includes:

  • 1 page of Informational text on the Lincoln Memorial and will inform students of the location, it’s design, when constructed and more.
    Automated Readability Index: 3.5
  • 1 comprehension worksheet with a mix of short answer, multiple choice and true false questions. There is also an opinion question. (Answer key provided)
  • A drawing activity
  • A postcard writing activity

Additional resources you’ll love…

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1st, 2nd Grade, Centers, Games, Crafts and More, Kindergarten, Math

Planning March Math Centers

If you teach students learning and needing to practice their basic addition and subtraction facts and are looking to have at least one themed math center for the month of March, check out this product from My Teaching Library!

Hands Off Me Gold is a FUN March Math file folder game! Your student are going to LOVE this St. Patrick’s Day themed math center with leprechauns, pots and gold coins!

Included: Gold coins with over 720 addition and subtraction problems (numbers used are from 0 – 30) Also included are blank gold coins and pots so that you can design the game even further. Can be used with PreK to 2nd grade because you choose the difficulty level.

Click here to see a short flipbook preview of this product!

Students will love matching up ‘sum’ and ‘difference’ pots with the correct addition and subtraction problem coinsall with a St. Patrick’s Day theme!


Other FUN March products that you’ll love:


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American History, notebooking, Presidents

Abraham Lincoln | History Project

Studying the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln? Wanting your students to develop their ability to research, organize, write and create a complete project? This interactive, hands on, resource is one that can be used in Social Studies, History and Language Arts classes and is designed to be either teacher led or student centered – whichever you prefer!

This project resource can be assigned individually or to cooperative groups. You can give students as much latitude as you want – or – you can be very deliberate in what and how you assign students to use the pages.

Includes:

  • “Creating a Notebooking Project – What is Notebooking?” instructional page
  • List of suggested supplies
  • Evaluation rubric (can be used by both teacher and student peer groups!)
  • Teacher directed assignment page (This is designed to be used if you need to ‘guide’ the students on the journey of creating the project – includes due date section)
  • Cover page for student use
  • Table of contents pages for project
  • Project KWL
  • Vocabulary terms page (So students can record and define unfamiliar terms along their study – or – You can assign certain terms to be completed throughout the project)
  • Reference page (For students to record the references they used to complete the project – Includes a # blank so students can place numbers (#’s) throughout their project.)
  • “Using Biographical Notebooking Pages” instructional page for student reference
  • “Guiding Research Questions” page to instruct students on how they can and should create their own research questions along the way.
  • 18 student publishing pages

Need students to draw from primary and secondary sources? Need students to develop research questions? Need students to analyze statements or events? Make these part of the requirements. This resource is extremely flexible and allows you to make the assignment exactly what you need!

Other U.S. History resources you’ll love…

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1st, American History, Kindergarten, Presidents

Presidents Day Learning for Kindergarten and 1st Grade!

Wanting to add some presidential learning activities into your Kindergarten or 1st grade classroom? Here is the perfect solution!

With this resource, students will learn about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, money (penny, quarter, $1 and $5 bills), the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial!

You’ll find activity pages appropriate for both Literacy and Math centers and there’s even a mini-book for students to create. This unit can be used at any time of the year or around the Presidents’ birthdays in February as well as Presidents Day!

Additional president related resources for early learners that you’ll love…

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American History, Freebies, Presidents, puzzles

FREE Crossword Puzzle: Which U.S. President?

This FREE crossword puzzle has been designed to help students connect facts, nicknames, and past events to U.S. Presidents (Washington to Biden)! Students can use your current curriculum, books and the internet to help them solve the clues or they can use My Teaching Library’s resource: US Presidents Fact Cards (All clues can be found on these fact cards)

This is a fun, challenging activity for any student or class studying U.S. Presidents, U.S. History or U.S. Government. Also, it is perfect activity for Presidents Day!

Additional resources for students studying presidents or U.S. History include:

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1st, 2nd Grade, Critical Thinking, Kindergarten, Presidents, puzzles

Helping young students with spatial reasoning skills

Puzzles are an opportunity for young children to explore early math concepts, including shapes, sizes, and how and where one puzzle piece fits with another to make pictures or designs. This type of math involves spatial reasoning.

My Teaching Library has created 6 George Washington picture puzzles which will give students the ability to practice and grow their spatial reasoning skills. These puzzles can be used at any time during the year or to celebrate Washington’s birthday or even Presidents Day!

Looking for additional president resources for early elementary? Check out…

Need resources for older students? Check out…

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5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, American History, BUNDLES, Presidents, puzzles

Classroom Materials for Presidents Day!

Studying the U.S. Presidents? Check out this BUNDLE! It includes three products and when you bundle, you save!

More about each product in this bundle:

  • U.S. Presidents Fact Cards
    These U.S. Presidents Fact Cards are perfect for students wanting to learn more about each president, from Washington to Biden. Also includes 2 blank templates to use for future presidents. Three info cards per page, each approximately 5″ x 3″. To use year after year, laminate the cards after you print and cut out.
  • U.S. Presidents Code Word Puzzles
    Five code word puzzles designed to challenge students’ critical thinking skills. Puzzles will be completed using the names of U.S. Presidents. Fun puzzles for any classroom, especially a U.S. History or Government class. Use anytime of the year, or for Presidents’ Day.  40% of code letters have been given. Just enough to give students clues but not too many that these puzzle aren’t challenging. Answer Keys provided.
  • Word Builder Puzzles | U.S. Presidents
    Challenge students’ critical thinking skills and knowledge of the U.S. Presidents with these 5 Word Builder puzzles with a U.S. Presidents theme!

Additional resources for U.S. History that you’ll love…

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