Journal writing takes place twice per week, and is graded weekly.  Students are provided a choice of prompts which are expanded through discussion.  Students are asked to write in a journal notebook as a record of this year's discussions and events.  Often, we share current events or topics that are meaningful for the 6th grade as a whole.  Students are given an opportunity to post entries as "private" on occasion, and at that point, I do not read that entry.  I write back to responses weekly, so your child and I have an ongoing conversation, building communication skills and connectedness.