Journal writing can be used as a reflection on educational goals, integrated into various curriculum related activities, show thoughts about reading or a personal experience, etc. Journals are a great way to give students choice too. If you are going to have a reading journal, give students options about what they want to write about. For example, if you are studying setting maybe give students options to write about 1) How the description in the text helps clarify the setting, 2) How the setting reminds you of another book or location you have been, or 3) How the setting affects the characters in the story.