A discussion of diary studies, research on second language learning and teaching that uses student journals about the learning experience, defines the method, reviews a number of such studies, and examines the pros and cons of this approach. It is noted that diary studies are first-person case study research, a form of empirical (data-based)…

Inviting students to read, write, and think, this book discusses 13 different types of journals and the stories of 25 classroom pre-K through high-school teachers who have built more effective journal writing into their classrooms. The book presents clear and easy-to-follow strategies for incorporating journaling into classroom practice. The book…

This yearbook presents seven articles on topics of interest to teachers of language and literature at all levels, kindergarten through college. Articles are: "Fourth Grade Shakespeare" (Mary McNulty); "What's That There in Your Crystal Ball?: Using Journals to Make Predictions" (Katie Wood); "The University English…

Using simple writing strategies, senior citizens at an elder camp workshop collected memories in journals. In some cases, readings were used to trigger memories. The exercise enabled students to make connections between their own life experiences and the life experiences of others. Workshops encouraging participants to tell their own stories for…

Using math journals on a weekly basis in second- and third-grade classrooms allows students to proceed at their own rate to converge on an understanding of mathematical concepts using their own experiences. Such journals also provide teachers with a unique diagnostic tool. Students' journal entries regarding telling time and the concept of…

A study examined the emergence of English writing in a kindergarten classroom where about three-quarters of the students were limited-English-proficient (LEP) and spoke a variety of native languages, including Spanish, Hmong, Lao, and Cambodian. Regular daily journal writing sessions were videotaped periodically and analyzed over the course of the…

A literature review examined the relationship between journal writing and thinking processes. Little was found in the way of actual research but much was located in the way of authoritative statements from practitioners of journal writing. The literature suggests that journal writing is beneficial in students' personal life, in the educational…

Journal writing can be used as a tool for the assessment of teaching while allowing students to have an active and expressive voice in their learning. Journal writing provides an excellent interactive format in which students can more freely express their understanding or lack of understanding of the subject matter. The entries also frequently…

Discusses the experiences of one student as she used her journal writing and the resources of a writing laboratory to adapt her expressive writing to the requirements of academic discourse. (RS)

"Courage Work," based on the writings of Parker Palmer, often involves the use of poetry as a vehicle for exploring and examining teachers' inner lives. This paper discusses how poetry was used with a group of undergraduate preservice elementary teachers in the Fall 2004 term, to explore how students responded to the poetry, particularly in light…

A model for an integrative first-year writing class, combining American native writing, field experience, and the fundamental trappings of a composition class, are examined in this paper. Students can learn to respond to environmental issues in creative ways and explore issues that they will face in their lives. In addition to a combined…

In the 1998-99 program year, 10 tutors recruited by The Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon, LVA (Literacy Volunteers of America), were encouraged to use the AIM (Assessment, Instruction, Mastery) program to plan lessons and give instruction to students at the lowest literacy level. Only two tutors completed worksheets. Interventions were…

Journal writing provides daily opportunities for students to express themselves, practice using the features of print they controlled, and extend their knowledge of print. By publishing the journals, two additional benefits are gained: the creation of more readable text for emergent readers; and the motivation to write more. "Life…

This study deals with the use of learning diaries in the intermediate course for Finnish language and culture. The article describes how the use of a diary helped both learners and teachers to increase their awareness of various issues affecting the learning of Finnish as a foreign language; e.g., learning experiences and the use of learning…

Children in the emergent writing stage write in pre-conventional or emergent forms (scribbling, drawing, non-phonetic letterings, and phonetic spelling) before they write conventionally. A special education teacher in a kindergarten inclusion setting in the Bronx, New York, noticing that her students did not particularly like to write, decided and…