Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everyone, Welcome
back to the Deep Dive.
Today we're taking a look atsomething that could be really
helpful for middle schoolers.
We're diving into 50 journalprompts for middle schoolers
from the Listallion website, andit's not just about listing
them off.
We're going to really explorewhy these prompts are so
valuable.
You know, middle school can bea pretty wild ride.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
It's a time of massive changeand growth.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Right.
So having a way to processeverything going on can make a
huge difference.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Totally, and that's
where journaling can be so
powerful.
These prompts give middleschoolers a structured way to
explore their feelings, workthrough challenges and get to
know themselves better.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
OK.
So Lestine has organized theseprompts into different
categories, which is great forour deep dive here.
We've got prompts about schoollife, friendships, personal
growth, dreams for the futureand, of course, dealing with all
those big emotions.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Love it A nice
framework for our conversation.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Right, so let's kick
things off with the school life
category.
One prompt that stood out to mewas what is one thing you wish
your school had that it doesn't?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Oh, that's a good one
.
It seems simple, but it canreally get them thinking
critically.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Totally.
Instead of just complaining, itencourages them to think about
solutions and improvements.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Exactly Like hey, if
I could change this, what would
I do?
It could even spark ideas forreal change.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
I love that.
It could even lead them tobecoming more active in their
school community.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Exactly.
It's planting the seed forleadership and problem solving.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Okay, so another
prompt in this category is if
you could create your dreamclassroom, what would it look
like?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Now this one sounds
fun.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It does right.
It's a great way for them tolet their creativity run wild.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But it's not just
about fun.
It gets them thinking about theenvironment and how it affects
their learning.
You know like would they havecomfy seating, lots of natural
light.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Right.
It makes them consider whatactually helps them learn best.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Exactly.
It subtly introduces them tothe whole idea of designing
spaces for learning, which ispretty cool.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
OK, we're already
seeing how much depth there is
to these prompts.
Let's move on to the nextcategory, which is all about
friendships and relationships.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Oh, this is a big one
.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Huge Middle school is
all about navigating those
complex social dynamics.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
So true, it's a time
when friendships can feel like
everything.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And these prompts can
help them make sense of it all.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Totally.
They can help kids understandwhat makes a healthy friendship,
how to deal with conflict andso much more.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Okay, one that really
grabbed my attention was right
about a time when you had adisagreement with a friend.
How did you resolve it?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
This one is so
important.
It's not just about rehashingthe fight, but learning from it.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Right.
It gets them thinking aboutcommunication, compromise and
empathy.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, did they listen
to their friend's perspective?
Did they try to find commonground?
Speaker 1 (02:45):
And it encourages
them to think about what they
could have done differently nexttime.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Exactly.
It helps them develop thosecrucial conflict resolution
skills.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Okay, there's another
one in this category that's
super insightful.
What is something you'velearned about yourself from your
friendships?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Ooh, that's a deep
one.
It makes them reflect on howtheir friends influence them.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It does right.
It gets them thinking about thequalities they admire in their
friends and how those qualitiesmight be rubbing off on them.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Or even the opposite,
like maybe there are some
friendships that havehighlighted things they want to
change about themselves.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Right, the powerful
way to understand how
relationships shape who we are.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Absolutely Okay.
I'm loving this so far.
These prompts are so simple butso effective.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I know right.
Let's keep rolling with thenext category, which is personal
growth and self-discovery.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Ooh, now this is
where things get really
interesting.
Middle school is prime time forfiguring out who you are.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
It is, and these
prompts can help them explore
their strengths, talents andpassions.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
And their weaknesses
too, which is just as important.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
So true, it's about
embracing all parts of
themselves.
Okay, one prompt that stood outto me was what is one thing
you're really good at?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
This one's all about
boosting that self-esteem.
Middle school can be brutal ona kid's confidence.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Absolutely.
This prompt encourages them tofocus on their strengths and
celebrate what makes themawesome.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, and that's a
message they need to hear loud
and clear during those awkwardteenage years.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Okay, so here's
another one that I really like.
What is something that makesyou unique?
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Love it.
It's all about embracingindividuality, because in middle
school there's so much pressureto fit in.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Right, but this
prompt encourages them to think
about what makes them stand outfrom the crowd and be proud of
those differences.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Exactly.
It's a reminder that beingdifferent is a good thing.
In fact, it's what makes usinteresting and special.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I love that, and it
sets them up to be more
confident in themselves as theymove through life.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Absolutely Okay.
I'm excited to see what othergems we find in these.
Prompts Me too.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Let's dive into the
next category, which is all
about dreaming about the future.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Oh, now this is a fun
one, getting kids to think
about their hopes and dreams.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Exactly, and middle
school is a great time to start.
They're old enough to have someideas, but still young enough
to dream big.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Absolutely.
It's a time for exploringpossibilities and envisioning
different paths for their lives.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay.
One prompt that caught my eyewas imagine what you want your
life to be like in 10 years.
What are you doing and how doyou feel about the future you're
building?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Oh, I love this one.
It's like a little mini visionboard exercise.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
It is.
It encourages them to thinkabout their goals, their values
and what kind of life they wantto create for themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And it helps them
realize they have the power to
shape their own future.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Exactly.
And then there's this one whatis one career you're interested
in and why does it excite you?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Ooh, I love this one.
It gets them thinking aboutdifferent career paths and
exploring what might be a goodfit for them.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Right, and it's not
just about what they're good at,
but what they're passionateabout.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Totally, because a
job should be more than just a
way to make money.
It should be something thatbrings you joy and a sense of
purpose.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Absolutely Okay.
So we've covered a lot ofground, but we have one more
category to explore, and it's abig one, Expressing feelings and
emotions.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Ah yes, this is where
journaling can be especially
powerful.
It gives them a safe space toprocess all those big, complex
emotions that come with being ateenager.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Exactly, and middle
school is a time when those
emotions can feel really intense.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Right.
They're dealing with so manychanges physically, emotionally,
socially.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
It's a lot to handle,
okay, so one prompt that
resonated with me was describe atime when you felt sad.
What caused that sadness andhow did you deal with your
emotions?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
This one is all about
helping them understand and
cope with difficult emotions,right.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
It encourages them to
identify their triggers, their
coping mechanisms, and torealize they're not alone in
feeling this way.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, it normalizes
those feelings of sadness and
lets them know it's okay to notbe okay sometimes.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Okay, and then
there's this gem Right about a
time you feel grateful forsomething.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Ooh, I love this one.
Gratitude is such a powerfulpractice.
It helps shift our focus fromwhat we lack to what we have.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Totally, and it can
have such a positive impact on
our mental health and well-being.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Absolutely Okay.
So we've talked about a lot ofgreat prompts so far.
What are some key takeaways forour listeners?
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Well, first and
foremost, journaling can be
incredibly beneficial for middleschoolers.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
It helps them process
emotions, build self-awareness
and cope with challenges.
And it's not just aboutsurviving the tough stuff, it's
also about capturing those happymemories, those big dreams and
those moments of gratitude.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Right, it's like a
personal time capsule that they
can look back on and see howmuch they've grown.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Totally, and I love
that Lestallion has provided all
these prompts for free on theirwebsite.
It makes it so easy for anyoneto access this powerful tool for
self-discovery.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Absolutely so.
If you're listening and you'rethinking, this sounds great, but
I don't know where to start,head over to Listallion's
website.
They've got you covered.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
And don't be afraid
to get creative with it.
You can decorate your journal,draw pictures, write poems.
Whatever helps you expressyourself authentically.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That's such a good
point.
Journaling isn't just aboutwords.
It's about finding your ownunique voice and letting it
shine through.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
It's about creating a
space where there are no rules,
no expectations, just pureunadulterated self-expression.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And that's where the
real magic happens when we give
ourselves permission to bevulnerable, to explore our
thoughts and feelings withoutjudgment.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Couldn't have said it
better myself.
So to our listeners, if you'refeeling inspired, take that leap
.
Grab a journal, a pen and juststart writing.
You might be surprised by whatyou discover.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
And, on that note, I
think it's time for us to wrap
up this deep dives into theworld of journal prompts for
middle schoolers.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
It's been a pleasure
exploring this topic with you.
I always learn something newwhen we delve into these
practical tools for personalgrowth.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Me too, and I hope
our listeners feel equipped and
excited to embark on their ownjournaling journey or to guide a
young person in their lives todo the same.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Remember, it's never
too late or too early to start
reaping the benefits ofjournaling.
So go forth, write, reflect anddiscover the incredible power
of your own inner voice.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And with that we'll
say goodbye for now.
Thanks for joining us on theDeep Dive.
We'll see you next time foranother fascinating exploration.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And you know it can
make a real difference.
It did for me when I wasyounger.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
That's awesome.
I wish I'd started journalingin middle school.
I think it would have helped methrough a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Me too.
It's such a valuable tool.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It is OK.
So we've talked about thedifferent categories of prompts
and why journaling is sobeneficial, but what's the big
takeaway for our listeners?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Well, I think this
episode highlights just how
powerful journaling can be,especially for middle schoolers.
It's like a secret weapon fornavigating all the ups and downs
of adolescence.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
It's like having a
trusted friend who always
listens but never spills yoursecrets.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Exactly, and it helps
them develop skills that will
last a lifetime, like processingemotions, building
self-awareness and learning howto cope with challenges.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And it's not just
about surviving the tough stuff.
It's also about capturing thoseexciting moments, happy
memories and those big dreamsfor the future.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It's about creating a
personal time capsule, a record
of their journey, so they cansee how much they've grown and
all the amazing things they'veaccomplished.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
So what are some key
takeaways our listeners should
remember from this deep dive?
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Well, first and
foremost, journaling is a
powerful tool for growth, nomatter your age, but it's
especially beneficial during themiddle school years, when so
much is changing and developing.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
It's like a safe
space to figure things out
without judgment.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Precisely, and it
allows them to explore all
aspects of their life, fromschool and friendships to
personal goals and dreams.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The prompts we
discussed today are really just
the tip of the iceberg.
The possibilities are endless.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Absolutely, and I
hope this inspires listeners to
either try journaling themselvesor encourage the middle
schoolers in their lives to pickup a pen and start writing.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
That's great advice.
Now, before we wrap up, I wantto leave our listeners with
something to ponder.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Ooh, I love a good
thought-provoking question.
What do you have for?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
us.
If you could go back in timeand give your middle school self
one piece of advice, what wouldit be?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Wow, that's a
powerful question.
It really makes you think aboutwhat you've learned and how far
you've come.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Exactly what wisdom
would you share with your
younger self?
What do you wish you had knownback then?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
You know, I think I
would tell my middle school self
to be kinder to myself, toembrace the journey and to never
be afraid to dream big.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
That's beautiful
advice and it ties in perfectly
with what we've been talkingabout today.
Journaling can be a powerfultool for self-discovery and for
learning to be your own bestfriend.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
It's a gift you give
to yourself a chance to connect
with your inner voice and unlockyour full potential.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And on that note, I
think it's time to wrap up our
deep dive into these 50 journalprompts for middle schoolers.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
It's been a
fascinating conversation.
I always love exploring thepower of journaling and its
impact on personal growth.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Me too, and I hope
our listeners feel inspired to
give it a try or to encouragethe middle schoolers in their
lives to pick up a pen and startwriting.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Remember, even just a
few minutes of journaling each
day can make a world ofdifference.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
It's a chance to
pause, reflect and connect with
yourself in a meaningful way.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And who knows, Maybe
those journal entries will
become treasured keepsakes, areminder of all the adventures,
challenges and triumphs thatshaped who they are.
That's a beautiful thought Well, that's all the time we have
for today's deep dive.
Thanks for joining us.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning and keep
journaling.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And remember you are
capable of amazing things.
Yeah, We'll see you on the nextdeep dive.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah, and it's not
just about writing down your
thoughts.
It's about exploring them,digging deeper, asking yourself
why do I feel this way?
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Right, it's about
understanding yourself better.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And that can be so
empowering.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Totally Okay.
So, to wrap things up, what'sthe one thing you want our
listeners to take away from thisdeep dive?
Speaker 1 (12:54):
That's a good
question.
I think the biggest takeaway isthat journaling can be a game
changer for middle schoolers.
A good question.
I think the biggest takeaway isthat journaling can be a game
changer for middle schoolers.
It's a tool that can help themnavigate this crazy time in
their lives and come outstronger and more self-aware.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
on the other side, I
love that, and it's a tool they
can use for the rest of theirlives.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Exactly.
So if you're a middle schoolerlistening, or if you know a
middle schooler, encourage themto give journaling a try.
You won't regret it.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Couldn't agree more.
It's a gift that keeps ongiving.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
And, on that note, I
think it's time to wrap up this
episode of the Deep Dive.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
It's been a pleasure
chatting with you, as always.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Likewise, and a huge
thank you to Listallion for
creating such a valuableresource for middle schoolers.
Be sure to check out theirwebsite for those 50 journal
prompts and all their awesomejournals.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
And to all our
listeners out there keep
exploring, keep learning andkeep journaling.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
We catch on the.