Focal Point Journal Topics

Focal Point Journal Topics is a workbook collection of different writing prompts that are thoughtful and elicit much response from teenagers ages 12-18 or grades 7-12. The topics are creative and inspired by the different literary works that have been read with students throughout the years. The idea is to have students enter the classroom with the focal point ready at hand. Students are given fifteen minutes at the start of the class to respond in writing to the focal point journal topic for the day. After students have written their individual thoughts a discussion or shared reading should take place. If students are not finished, it is okay, have them share what they have written so far and complete the writing as part of their homework assignment. I want to encourage teachers to choose topics that are closely related to what they are reading in class. However, the topics are universal and do spark the writers’ interest and motivates discussion.