Carolyn L. Streets
Didactic journaling helps students to identify and explain significant parts of the text. It is a high-level form of literary analysis that uses annotation of text in which students will think about, question, clarify, critique, and synthesize what is read. Students will use didactic journaling for text engagement. This method can range in complexity; however, a simplified version of didactic journaling is creating a double-entry journal response where students select quotes from the text on one side and then will write a reaction or analysis to the quote on the other. Students will be encouraged to thematically connect their entries to the concepts covered in this unit. Journals will include a process for deep engagement: 1. Cite, 2. Explain, and 3. Connect. Of note, teachers may insert a mini-lesson or refresher lesson on how to correctly cite text information, and analyze texts using figurative language.
