Explores how high school students' reading logs reveal their reading processes as they read and respond to literature. Examines the reading logs from three eleventh-grade English classes throughout the school year. (MM)

Describes a study conducted to examine the effects of journal writing on student performance in a math course offered as part of an eight-week summer program for educationally and economically disadvantaged youth. Indicates that students who completed practice exercises at the end of class performed better than those who wrote in their journals…

A primary school in Cali, Colombia, has implemented major changes intended to give students a more active role in their education. Encouraged by new government guidelines, teachers banished letter grades and began to assess students on mastery of curriculum objectives. During parent-teacher conferences, children speak confidently about their…

Describes how one English teacher revised course goals and journal writing assignments to promote better thinking and writing in a college literature course. Concentrates on the way "Beowulf" was taught and the kinds of writing about it that were produced by students as a result. (HB)

Teachers can use dialog journals to inspire their students to write. Such a method allows students to write and teachers to answer without worrying about red marks or negative comments. The article suggests topics to get students writing and ideas for encouraging students to write. (SM)

A behavior specialist working in a class for students identified as severely emotionally disturbed shares the dialog journal writing of an eighth-grade male student and notes the boy's self-evaluation regarding his special education label, his searching questions, his relationship to others, his growing self-esteem as a writer, and his family…

Explores how journal writing in a free form--without consideration of grammar, punctuation, or other mechanics and without the guidance of an assigned topic--may lead to trusting relationships with teachers and students' increased understanding of their own needs and motives. Suggests that behavior of troubled students improves as a result of this…

Describes a first grade teacher's efforts to expand the boundaries of her literate classroom community and include the families of her students. Describes how all students' families participated, each in their own way, in reading and journaling together, and in the "Family Stories" project. (SR)

Study examined the relationship between future teachers' reflections and growth in their teaching abilities in an early field placement. Analysis of data gathered over one semester from reflective journals and multiple observations indicated teacher preparation programs should foster reflective thinking as an important facet of growth in teaching…

Illuminates patterns in responses to literature by analyzing one sixth grader's entries written in her literature response journal. Finds that the student's responses reveal her as an active reader and writer with unique thoughts, feelings. and opinions generated by quality children's literature. (MG)

Describes the process and positive results of restructuring a basic English classroom which contained foreign students, special education students, and students with disciplinary problems. Shows how journal writing and writing workshops helped these students. (PRA)

Describes teacher education practice aimed at promoting reflection in novice practitioners, and reflects on an exercise used in teaching a class of preservice secondary teachers. The author draws on student journal entries data in understanding the students' reflective thinking and demonstrates the efficacy of having students keep focused…

Describes the activities of "The WONDER of Learning Program" of the National Writing Project. Shows how the program was designed to nurture first-grade teachers in seven retreat sessions in which the teachers studied and learned from each other about teaching approaches, methods, and activities. (HB)

Data compiled from kindergartners' writing samples, records of kindergartners' social interactions, and interviews of kindergartners indicated that teacher behavior, student interactions, classroom materials and environment, and student perspectives on journal writing influenced student choice of topics for journal writing. (ME)

Provides brief overviews of the four articles in this issue. Articles concern (1) social influences on kindergartners' journal writing; (2) stress behaviors of kindergartners while taking standardized tests; (3) preschool teachers' attitudes about cognitive development, educational objectives, and curriculum practices; and (4) preschool teachers'…