What Can You Do With a Vocabulary Journal Template?

A vocabulary journal is essential for building strong reading skills and improving overall academic success. Daily explicit language instruction helps students understand more difficult texts, improves their writing, and gives them the words they need to hold everyday social and academic discussions. With this vocabulary journal template, you can provide students with a structured way to record, define, and practise new words—helping them retain meaning and deeper understanding.

Keep a Vocab Journal for Effective Word Study

This vocab journal is a printable resource designed to help students take ownership of their vocabulary learning. You can use this template to create individual vocab journal mini-books, helping your students to:

• Record new words and definitions
• Write example sentences using each word
• Illustrate the meaning of each term
• Identify synonyms and antonyms to expand word knowledge

This resource includes a cover page and three differentiated vocab journal templates. Each template is described below:

• My Vocab Journal Template 1 – Students record a word definition, use it in a sentence, draw a picture, and name the part of speech.
• My Vocab Journal Template 2 – Students record a word, definition, sentence, picture and give a word that rhymes with the given word.
• My Vocab Journal 3 – Students record a word, definition, sentence, picture, and explain the word’s meaning in their own words.

This vocab notebook template is available in two formats:

• PDF – Ready to print and use in the classroom
• Google Slides (Editable Version) – Customise and adapt to fit your students’ needs

Printing Instructions for My Vocabulary Journal

1. Choose your preferred format (PDF or Google Slides).
2. Click the download button and open the file.
3. Print enough copies of the cover sheet for your students.
4. Choose the vocab journal page template you prefer, and print enough pages for each student to create a multi-page journal (depending on how many words you choose to teach). We recommend printing them double-sided to save paper.
5. Give each student a cover and a stack of page templates, and have them cut them in half and stack them neatly.
6. Staple along the edge.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher and Teach Starter Collaborator.

More Resources to Accompany a Daily Vocabulary Journal

Pair this daily vocabulary journal with engaging vocabulary-building activities to teach new words and help your students learn to use them correctly. Try one of these fun vocabulary activities or teaching resources today:

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