Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW SOU board narrows field of presidential candidates ... Leonard Peltier's son to speak in Ashland ... Jackson County to FERC: Uphold pipeline denial ... SOU board narrows field of presidential candidates ... Leonard Peltier's son to speak in Ashland ... Jackson County to FERC: Uphold pipeline denial ... TEACHER'S TIPS Teacher's Tips: Make summer memories last a lifetime by journaling Comment By Paul Huard For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Paul Huard For the Tidings Posted May. 23, 2016 at 7:23 PM By Paul Huard For the Tidings Posted May. 23, 2016 at 7:23 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Four tips teachers told me that made my life better • Ashland teacher earns WWII study fellowship • A wish list for Ashland schools' next superintendent • Teacher's Tips: Are we stressing too much over students' 'stress'?... » Social News Parents in search of summer activities for their children often spend a fortune on summer camps, day programs, or travel opportunities. There’s nothing wrong with those options. But I often wonder if perhaps the best thing a child can take away from the experience is his or her memories. That’s why I say that one of the most significant things you can do once school is out is encourage your child to keep a journal. Whether it is a younger child or a teenager, a journal is a great way to record special moments, work out feelings, or just unwind — even if the child isn’t in the habit of writing. It’s also inexpensive, promotes literacy and helps a child build their emotional vocabulary. “Journaling is often a good activity for kids who are reluctant to write or, in some cases, reluctant to speak,” writes Amanda Morin, a children’s activities expert. “The versatility of journaling means it can be incorporated into many different areas of learning, including math, science, and social studies.” Journaling can simply be for enjoyment. A kid who has an “ah-ha!” moment at summer camp or during a family vacation can record the experience in writing, pictures, or simply scribbles. The child’s writing doesn’t have to be on par with James Boswell or Marcel Proust. Just recording memories, impressions, or the things that interested the child are enough. Sketches, pictures, or even mementoes glued on to pages, as well as written narrative, can create an incredible record of the child’s thoughts and interests. What can you do to encourage your child to journal? Here are some suggestions. Take your child to a store that sells notebooks and let him or her choose their journal. Ownership is essential to successful journaling, and there are some impressive looking bound journals with ruled paper for $6 or so. Discount stores might sell journals or diaries for even less. Let your child browse the selection — ideally, he or she will find one that appeals. Show your child that there are all kinds of ways of recording thoughts and feelings. Here are some ideas for different kinds of journals, according to Morin. • A nature journal will allow a child to keep track of observations about the natural world. Some of things that your child can do in a nature journal: Drawing pictures of insects, animals or birds, describing natural sounds, and pasting interesting bits of nature such as leaves or flowers on the pages. • A daily prompt: You can pose a question a day for your child, or ask him or her to respond to a statement. • A feelings journal: This is a great way for a child to build an “emotional vocabulary” based on a record of thoughts, feelings, and observations about emotions. You can ask your child to write or draw descriptions about how they feel about particular experiences. • A vacation journal: The most common form of journal in many families, this is a record or collection of narrative, sketches and souvenirs from a family vacation. Not only will this provide an opportunity for the child to work on literacy skills, journals like this often become treasured family heirlooms. If possible, journal with your children and find time to share the entries. In most cases, this can be an enjoyable family activity. “Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come,” wrote the American poet Mattie Stepanek. “Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future.” A journal can help your child create keepsakes that will build a bridge from their past to their future. A former reporter who covered politics and government for newspapers in California and Oregon, Paul R. Huard teaches social studies and English courses at Ashland High School. The opinions he expresses are his own. By Paul Huard For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Paul Huard For the Tidings Posted May. 23, 2016 at 7:23 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501