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Posted by Julie Burton on 8/23/02:
I also got pocket folders for our kids. I left them empty and provide both types of paper for them to write/draw on. There's a hole punch for them to make holes in if they want to fasten it in, but I've found most just put them in the pockets. I let the kids decorate the front of the folders.

Posted by dana on 8/25/02:
Sometimes the workshop leader puts a copy of the scripture used in the workshop - example )the Lord's Prayer, 23rd Psalm, Footprints, etc.) to paste in the journals. We also offer appropriate coloring sheets for our 4/5 year olds to color as they usually can't write very well. This way they have a little remembrance of the unit topic.

Posted by Catherine on 8/25/02:
We've tried a variety of methods for journaling. Right now we prepare a journal sheet for each unit. It contains the lesson title, the memory verse and a place for the child's name and workshop name. (For the youngest kids, we found it best to fill in the name of the workshop or they spend the entire time spelling the workshop name).

In our lessons, we provide ideas for simple journaling. Often, if time is tight, journaling doesn't get done so a simple backup plan is good. A sticker, or prayer or something to paste onto the page is easy. Older kids can do acrostics with either their name or some word or phrase (Jesus or He Lives) that ties into the lesson.

Other concrete ideas: name one thing you will do this week...., or one person who needs your prayers, etc. Specific instructions work best for kids. For little kids: Draw yourself in prayer, draw a picture of your favorite thing about church, etc.

We file all these in a folder for each child to keep for the year. We've also sent the sheets home with the children each week to share with parents. Or, send them home at the end of a unit stapled together. We keep trying different ways. There is no one right answer.

Posted by Jaymie Derden on 8/26/02:
Our journals have evolved over the last 2 years... We use pocket folders with prongs too. We color code everything! So all our 1-2 grade journals, nametags, etc. are purple, 3-4 graders are red, etc. We let the kids use stickers and markers to decorate their covers. We keep our journals from year to year and at the end of their elementary years we give the journals to them as a record of their faith journey.

The first year we stuffed them with a few "fill in the blank" type sheets on prayer, etc. Then each rotation we added pages as we went. It got to be a real pain to have to add all those pages every 4-6 weeks.

So last year I stuffed all the journals ahead of time ( I got my teenage daughter and her friend to help me!). I used blank pages (just plain, un-lined paper) for grades 1-4 and black gel pen notepaper for 5-6 graders. (which by the way, I am unable to locate this year...anyone know where I can find it?) We include markers/colored pencils and gel pens (for 5-6 grade) in a pouch in the journal box so everything is all together. Each rotation I type up a sticker (a 2X4 inch label) with the name of the rotation, the date and the memory verse. Each rotation, I go through and stick this on a fresh page in the kids' journals. (this gives me an opportunity to see what the kids have been thinking and if they're "getting it.") Then I also make labels with specific journal questions for each workshop and each age group -- these are given to the teachers with their lessons. (I also color coordinate these to make it easy to see which questions go with which age group)

When it's time to do journals each child gets a label to put in their journals. Shepherds and teachers sit with kids in small groups to reflect on the day's lesson and to talk about the question.

I make up several extras for new kids. We give visitors a journal, unless it is obvious that they are a "one-time-only" visitor, such as a cousin from out-of-town visiting. Those kids get a sheet with the question and get to take it home with them.

This summer we did a 13 week unit on Paul and rather than using our regular journals we made passports. The questions were typed out and the whole passport photocopied.We had stickers that coordinated with each lesson and that really helped some of the kids "get into" it more. This next year, I am going to try to find stickers that relate to the lesson and put those in the Journal boxes too.

Some kids really get into this and write pretty amazing things. Others just go through the motions. But, I believe there is value to reflecting and trying to put your thoughts into words. We typically do journals about 50% of the time.

I just did a Celebration Bulletin board and one of the things I put on it were some samples of kids' journal pages (I got permission first!) Neat way to see what they are learning!

Posted by Barbara in Portland on 9/20/02:
I do not use journaling in my program-I think it would put too much pressure on kids who don't like/can't write, whether from a disability or whatever. Also, unless they took them home, they wouldn't see any prayers or whatever in them; if they took them home, we'd never see them again. HOWEVER, I do have journal type book in the Bible Skills and Games Workshop that they use and leave there. I has a time line for them to mark when the story takes place, and a picture of a "Bible Library,'like books on a shelf, a different volume for each book of the Bible, divided into O and N testaments. They color in the book of the Bible where the current story is located. The younger ones may not get the time line concept, but in the long run they will. I was getting tired of the "is Moses before or after Jesus?" question. All the sheets fold out of the cover as they are too wide. Hope this helps.

Posted by Hoopcoach on 10/16/02:
My 2 cents...We tried to use journals last year in our first year of rotation. Our church school includes grades K-5.We even bought journals with great designs on the covers and provided colored pencils for the children to use. It was the first thing to get dropped when the teacher was running out of time. The shepherds ( all but one) reported time and time again that the kids balked at the journaling time. Many comments such as "feels too much like school" were heard. We tried to have the younger children draw a picture in response to the discussion but those ended up being mostly unrelated.
This year we decided to use the last five minutes of class for a "discussion/review" time. We have the shepherds make up questions related to the lesson. Sometimes we throw in a "prize" such as a pencil with the 10 commandments written on it or a books of the Bible bookmark.
So far the shepherds report that this is more effective way to review the lesson.

Posted by Jaymie Derden on 10/18/02:
We are in our third year of rotation and have used journals since the beginning, though their use has evolved quite a bit. We provide specific age-appropriate questions for each workshop, though we find that on average they get done about 50-75% of the time. We also include our rotation memory verse which has the name of the rotation, the dates and the verse. I type them out on address labels so they can easily be stuck to journal pages. For 1-2 graders we often ask for a simple one-word answer and ask them to draw a picture. We use this time as a wrap-up and reflection time. Shepherds and teachers talk with the kids about what they have experienced and guide them into the specific journal question for the day. We try to have it geared to the specific focus of that workshop. Some kids do not enjoy this, but many do. I am constantly amazed at what some of the kids come up with. I review the journals at the end of each rotation. (I put the new memory verse sticker on their journals). It helps me to see what they are learning and how often they are journaling. It also helps me evaluate what is happening and see if there are issues that need to be addressed. For example: this summer we studied Paul. One of the key themes was that God can do anything! We even sang about it..."All things are possible with God..." But when looking through journals I noticed that several kids had answered this question: "Why do you think God does not answer all of our prayers the way we want?" with this answer: "some things God just can't do." That was a real heads-up for me and we have reinforced the message that nothing is impossible with God over our last few rotations. If it hadn't been for those journals, I'm not sure I would have known about that.
I also enjoy seeing the growth in children's faith and their development through journals. I believe their journals will be cherished mementos of their faith journeys which they will probably appreciate much further down the road than confirmation! (like so many things in our lives!) -- Jaymie Derden

Posted by JCarey on 9/19/03:
Our children's and worship kids do journaling so we do not actually do it during our rotation time but journals in general are excellent. I do the computer part of our kid's journals. We have them draw a self portrait and answer some wondering questions; I like..., I wonder..., I want to know why..., I am thankful for..., I would like to ask God... I then scan the drawings individually into the computer. I set up a page with all of the wondering questions around the outside like a border and in the top left corner I have left a place for their reduced drawings. Basically, they have their own personalized stationary. Some stationary is printed with just the border and drawing and some is printed with that plus some other prompter questions in the body of the paper. I print on a variety of cool papers and they then choose what paper they wish to respond to each week. We tried journaling in rotation but only for one four week unit. Our morning just does not allow for enough time to get thoughtful responses. If your church has time, journaling is excellent.

Posted by rhondab on 9/20/03:
There is a brief article on journaling on this website: https://www.rotation.org/forum...-journaling-workshop. The information is limited, but might answer some of your questions. Basically, it seems hard to find the time as [previously] explained. However, there are benefits and it's worth trying, at least periodically.


Posted by M. Amick on 1/31/04:
We do journaling at the end of our workshop time. The paper is ready for them in their individual notebooks/journals. We try to get two or more journal entries in a month. We date their journal entries and we intend to give them to the kids when they are confirmed and/or finish rotation... they should be able to see how their faith developed over the years. Michele

Posted by Hilary S. on 2/11/04:
We do journaling at the end of most lessons. Sometimes a picture with few words, sometimes it's in answer to a question or a "what I have learned" sentence. The kids had to find their own notebooks (from the dollar store). They keep their journals (these are private) so that they can look at what they wrote, pray the prayer they thought of or finish off what we hadn't got time for at church! I think it's a great way to close: journal reflection and prayer. Blessings, Hilary

Posted by Jenny on 3/8/04:
We have been doing Rotation for a couple years now. The question I have is about journaling. We started out journaling every three weeks. We bought the kids black note books and used colored gel pens for the older kids and bought plain paper notebooks and markers for the younger group. It was fun at first now I can't even remember the last time we did it. What do you all do? Would it be best to forget it or should we try to start it up again?? Thanks

Posted by Hilary S on 3/8/04:
From my small experience of doing rotation since the fall, I would say journaling success is hard to measure. What is important is to make sure the discussion and digging has been stellar from the leadership. Writing "just anything" down is a time-waster. When journaling poses a good question/reflection, then use it. When something else is more pertinent, go for it. For example, we recently taught a rotation about Danuiel and his strength from prayer. At the end of one lesson the kids wrote a prayer together (which they wanted very much to pray again the following week) and also began writing prayers in their own prayer book, created that day.

Posted by Trishlynn on 3/8/04:
We started out with Journals but our shepherds decided they would rather spend the extra 15 minutes praying and talking with the kids instead. We were being rushed to finish the workshop, do the memeory verse, journal, and pray. Some of them still do it occasionally but most do not. The kids didnt really appreciate it anyway so we thought it was best just to leave it up to the shepherds.