Journal+Writing

While writing a paper regarding gender and mathematics during my first semester of my education degree, I found research that suggested using journals in math classes to boost achievement. I had never heard of this before, kinda interested in finding out more about it. I don't think I wrote in a journal in school past grade 4.

"Journal writing is a learning tool based on the ideas that sutdents write to learn. Students use the journals to write about topics of personal interest, to note their observations, to imagine, to wonder and to connect new information with things they already know." (Could not have said it better myself).

Source: [|Journal Writing - Instuctional Strategies Online]

Benefits to students: fosters learning in many ways and increases engagement in their own learning. Students are able to clarify and reflect on their thinking.

To make this work, it is important to schedule time for regular journal use. Sometimes, journals can become a place to record daily events. It is important to include reflection into this.

Source #2: [|Journals: Assessment Without Anxiety]

"A journal is a personal record of occurrences, experiences and reflections kept on a regular basis...The purpose of journals is not to assign a grade for each entry but to help students find their own voices and to be reflective about the subject. Allowing more informal tentative writing into the classroom encourages students to think for themselves as opposed to only knowing second hand what others have thought before them."

Both sources suggest that journal entries should not be graded. "Journals are a form of self-assessment, an opportunity for students to think about their knowledge of the subject and to strengthen their confidence." However, overall, a mark can be given to the journal. An example rubric can be found here: [|Journal Rubric]. Journals are product assessments, since they are creating a tangible object.

Benefits to students: Gaining a deeper understanding of the content of a class by making connections to their own life. "Constructing personal meaning by reflection and conversation....The journal is an opportunity for each student to be personally involved in the agenda of the class."

I would use journal writing mostly in entrepreneurship or career and work throughout the whole course. Career and work would be a great place for a journal since much of the learning is individualized in researching skills and abilities, certain career paths, going on interviews and working in the workplace for a period of time. Entrepreneurship would also be good in that, they can reflect on the learnings and connect it to building their own venture. Law would be another good class for a journal in that they can connect so much of the world around them to the content.