Monthly Diaries- an instant writing portfolio!

We are wrapping up our last writing in our "monthly diary"... and we had so much fun looking back through old entries and seeing how we've changed as writers!

I start in September (actually, the first day of school in October) and we fill out a calendar with all of the events that took place in September.

Then we brainstorm an event and write about it.  Students choose an event off the calendar or something from their own life that happened that month.  We do this every month and then, at the end of the year, they have an instant portfolio to showcase their growth... not to mention a great keepsake!

Before school starts, I copy and three-hole punch a set for every student with the calendar page and then the diary for each month.  I put them in a 3-prong folder- which we use all year as our writing folders.  They store their everyday writings in the pockets, and the diary and calendar live in the middle.

Here we are working on filling in our calendar.  I write and project while they fill in their copies.  We go through each event together and they hold their pencils up when they are done.  Then I write the next event, etc...:

 And then they do their diary page!  We always draw a picture when we're done.

I have this available in my TpT and Teacher's Notebook shops.  The file contains primary and intermediate lined papers.

Ginger from Ginger Snaps is having a giveaway to celebrate 1,000 followers and this is the item I'm contributing!

 TpT     Teacher's Notebook