8th Grade Journals
Directions: Using the five paragraph essay method, write an introduction (attention getter, background and thesis), three body paragraphs (SEE Method) and a conclusion (restate thesis, summary and bold statement) reflecting your thoughts about the journal topic.
Journal Grades: Six journals are due the week of exams each nine weeks.
2. Things that interest me and why
3. Choose any item from the above list and write about it.
4. Goals for the year
5. Why it's great to be a kid of ___ parents' names (this is a good exercise to use before Open House, then assign the parents to write an response entitled "Why it's great to be a parent of __” the night of the Open House)
6. All about baby-sitters
7. How old I'd like to be and why
8. All about my teacher
9. All about Mom
10. All about Dad
11. School days
12. After school
13. Weekends
14. What I do well
15. Dear Mom and Dad, About my report card. . .
16. If I could spend an hour with the president of the USA, here are some questions that I'd like to ask him.
17. Usually a day in October is designated as National Grouch Day. These things that make ME grouchy.
18. Someone I'll never forget
19. A good movie I've seen
20. Ten things I want to accomplish by time I'm 40 years old
21. America's greatest athlete
22. America's greatest actor/actress/singer/rock group
23. The most important invention of all times
24. Ten things that make me happy
25. Ten things that make me cry
26. Getting up in the morning
27. All about our school principal/director
28. All about our school headmaster/superintendent
29. My favorite month of the year
30. Holiday vacation
3l. A list of my favorite foods
32. A list of my favorite TV programs
33. My list of things I'll NEVER do
34. My list of 10 things that should be changed
35. My list of things I just don't understand
36. My list of things I'll never forget
37. My list of things that everyone should try at least once
38. I wish . . .
39. My list of 10 crazy reasons I didn't do my homework
40. My reasons that everyone should have a pet
41. My list of the most important reasons for going to school
42. All about my first day in kindergarten or preschool
43. My holiday wish list
44. My list of things worth saving
45. 10 people I'd like to meet
46. 10 people I would NOT like to meet
47. Field trips
48. Hints on how to get good grades
49. Predictions for the future
50. What I do when I'm bored
51. My favorite holiday
52. How I feel about my name
53. A planet I might like to visit
54. Dad's angry. Here are five reasons why
55. If I could plan a dinner menu, this is what I'd like to have
56. Things that scare me
57. Dreams
58. Complaints
59. Jokes
60. I could never live without . . .
6l. TV or radio commercials that I like
62. TV or radio commercials that I dislike
63. I look forward to . . .
64. I admire people who . . .
65. The best thing that happened recently is . . .
66. Things that make me laugh
67. What makes me very special
68. The 10 commandments for my future husband or wife
69. This story in the news concerns me the most
70. Things that are valuable or precious to me
71. My favorite vacation
72. The most interesting sporting event I've seen
73. The best thing I've ever found
74. My favorite relative
75. Sometimes I like to be alone
76. If I were in charge of peace
77. If I had a million dollars
78. If I had magical powers
79. If I were the teacher of this class
80. A place I'd like to live
81. A list of my favorite books
82. My list of movies to avoid
83. Ten book characters to invite to a party
84. The best parts of going to this school are . . .
85. Pet peeves
86. Things that drive me batty
87. Things I'll do when I'm 16 years old
88. Don't you just love it when . . .
89. Don't you just hate it when . . .
90. When I'm a parent I will/will not let my child . . .
91. All about Halloween
92. The best Halloween was . . .
93. All about Christmas/Hanukkah
94. I am thankful for these hands that hold . . . (trace around hands and write answers inside!)
95. These feet have been to so many places. (trace around feet and write answers inside)
96. My heart belongs to (draw hearts and write answers inside)
97. "Itis" sufferers: Write why you suffer from brother-itis, TV-itis, computer-itis, etc.
98. I wish my mom would . . .
99. I wish my dad would . . .
100. Draw some shamrocks. Inside each one, write reasons why you are lucky.
101. Commands from Mom and Dad (this is the best way I've found to teach commands: Take out the trash, Make your bed, etc.) To be fair, the next page should be Commands from my teacher!
102. Someday . . .
103. If I could go back in time . . .
104. Things might be different in the year 2020. . .
105. My dreams for America
106. Happy memories
107. My old teddy bear (or any stuffed animal)
108. How to survive in grade __
109. Talking on the telephone
110. Year end thoughts
111. Slight irritations (The telephone always rings during dinner.)
112. New Year's Resolutions
113. Advice for younger students
114. "Why" list (such as "Why doesn't my dad ever stop get directions when we get lost driving somewhere? Why does my sister always take so long getting ready for school?")
115. The best things in life are . . .
116. I am smiling today 'cuz . . .
117. It's a new semester! I will . . ., I will not. . .
118. Mom’s upset. Write 5 reasons why
119. I will probably never throw away my old . . .
120. An ideal parent
121. Things in my life that absolutely rock!
122. Traits of mine that I’d like to pass on to my children
123. Traits of mine that I would NOT like to pass on to my children
124. I admire ___ and why
125. Qualities of a good teacher
126. The best story your parents or grandparents tell about the “good old days”
127. Draw ten medium sized circles and fill them in with recognizable objects (tire, doughnut, smiling face, etc.) and then write a short paragraph about one of them
128. Design a floor plan for your new bedroom then describe it
129. Getting along with my cousins
130. If I were the son/daughter of the president of the USA, I would/would not. . .
131. My first sleepover
132. If I could travel into the future, this is how far I’d like to go and why
133. Places I love to go
134. Places I hate to go
135. My lucky day
136. Why Friday is fantastic!
137. A day I woke up late
138. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do
139. The people next door
140. Why I would or would not like to live to the age of 100
141. The most important things I’ll probably ever do
142. If I had my way . . .
143. List clothing you love/hate to wear
144. If you were going on a trip around the world, what three friends would you take with you and why?
145. A gift I didn’t like
146. My favorite room in our house
147. My idea of a dull evening
148. My favorite songs
149. I can’t believe. . .
150. Things I collect and why