Thinking

Question: How can I help children think about what they read?

Answer: The author suggests “dialectical journals.”

Headings for Three or Four Columns:

Interpretation Journal: What It Says. What It Means. What It Means to Me.
Character analysis Journal: What It Says. What It Means. What It Tells about the Character.
Application Journal: What It Says. What It Means. How I can Use It.
Problem-Solution Journal (Math): What It Says. What It Means. Operations. Solution.
Problem-Solution Journal: What It Says. What It Means. What It Means to Me. What It Means to the World.

Comment: The third column internalizes and applies the idea to oneself or to others. I would focus on “What It Says” and “What It Meas.” And “Application.” Seems to be worth trying. In addition, isolates key ideas that need clarification and application. RayS.

Title: “Using Dialectical Journals to Teach Thinking Skills.” Phyllis R Edwards. Journal of Reading (December 1991/January 1992), 312-316.