Submitted by Tami Mangusso, Aurora, Colorado

Idea posted April 21, 2003

I use SQUILT journals that I made out of construction paper and notebook paper (about 10 pages). The students will write their responses on one side of the paper. I store them in the rooms, and I have the students help pass them out.

We do SQUILT during the last 10-15 minutes of class. I have a timer that looks like a mouse (we call him "Mousie Mozart"). I always try to set Mousie Mozart as they come into the room. When we hear him ring, it's time to start SQUILT. My students know to get a pencil and lapboard and find a spot. I allow my students to sit on the risers or on the floor. They can choose to sit or lay down.

It took about a month for the students to get used to the routine. They also know if they can't do the activity quietly during their class time, then they will owe me their recess time to do it all over again until they can do it right. I really don't have students getting bored, because if they finish early, they can doodle on their SQUILT journal covers. I will even let them have markers to color them.

I use an overhead that has about 5-6 questions that they answer. I do expect their answers to be in sentence form. I have chart paper that shows how each sentence should start, and then they fill in the dots or lines with their own answer. Most of my students can answer the questions without looking at the model, but we have a lot of ELA students who need it. I would just have them write one word answers, but writing seems to be a big thing in our school. SQUILT has helped some of them become better writers - many of them are really righting some nice, thoughtful answers.

I do grade all of the SQUILT journals. I have 2nd-5th grade doing this activity, and there are four sections in each grade. It does add up on my workload, but I have gotten used to the work.

My students love SQUILT - they will remind me if I forget about it (occasionally I will forget to set Mousie Mozart). Many students will also ask where I got the music. I also put the SQUILT info out in my hallway so kids know what we'll be listening to. It gives the title, composer/singer, and a little bio about the singer/composer.