In our class, two children share a story each day.  Sharing time lasts about 20 minutes.  The children must tell their story to the teacher before signing up.  They get very excited about sharing!  Screening the story helps the teacher to work with children individually on the elements of a story.

After their story has been screened by the teacher, the child selects a keyword that sums up the main idea of their story.  This keyword will serve as a reminder for the children and as a title during the sharing process.

Next, the class gathers on the floor for the sharing. During the sharing, the class becomes the audience.  They are carefully listening for the details that will help them write and draw a picture of the story that was shared.

As they share, the children tell their classmates all about their story.  They tell about the story's setting and provide lots of details. 

Once the story has been shared, the children get a chance to ask questions.  They are looking for the details that they will use in their writing.  Asking and answering questions also helps the sharer to clarify any information that might have been confusing  to the children. 

When both stories have been shared, it is time for the children to negotiate.  This process helps the children decide on the story that will be written about.  As they negotiate, the children discuss the story they want to write about and why.  They use information from the sharing chart, previously written stories, details that were shared and many other things when discussing what story should be chosen.

After the negotiations are finished, the children vote on the story that they want to write about.  If there is a tie, the children get to decide how the situation is solved.

Writing is the main focus of shared journal.  The children have an opportunity to express themselves at their developmental level.  They can all tell the story, whether it is through drawing or writing.  They all feel successful at expressing themselves through this medium.

Drawing the picture is also a major part of journal writing.  Illustrating the story helps each child to think through details of the story that are important.  They also learn how  to use their illustrations to tell more about the story.

Writing about stories their friends have shared helps the children to develop friendships and understand one another's experiences.  They also learn about things that they wouldn't have an opportunity to know about, such as when children share stories about places they have been.