I absolutely love this idea of the double entry diary, and I would definitely incorporate this into my classroom! This is so beneficial to students in helping them to construct meaning from the text. This technique personalizes the text to the student, as students are invited to make connections with the text. Students have the option of drawing from their previous knowledge, discussing their personal feelings, and making predictions. In a sense, this is a way of making the text “come alive” for the students.
This technique also aids in reading comprehension. The text is divided into sections so that students can focus on one piece of the story at a time. While students are reading, they are taking notes in their journals about personal connections that they have made with the text. This will help the information to stay organized in their minds. After they have finished reading the book, they can go back and look at their Double Entry Diaries and remember in detail the various parts of the story.
Students are also required to define a set of vocabulary words that are found in the text. This allows students to more fully understand the text when they know what the words mean. This process of defining a word and drawing a picture to accompany the word help the reader to remember what the word means. This is a great way to help students expand their vocabulary!
