Sunday, May 27, 2007

Logs or Journals

After reading Chapter 5 called “Assessment and Evaluation” I noticed how keeping a learning log or journal is a perfect method for ELL students to express themselves. It is also a great tool for students to develop their reading and writing skills. As brought out in the reading packet, “students are often amazed to see their own growth and development over time. Isn’t this a wonderful opportunity to build our ELL students self-esteem? In the beginning of the school year I had the students decorate their journal book, front and back, with pictures that describe who they are they. They were able to use stickers, photos, magazine cut-out pictures, and whatever else they wanted to use to creatively decorate their journals. The purpose of having them decorate their own journals was because they are more likely to treasure it. Additionally, they are more likely to have a closer connection with the journal they decorated since they put the time and effort into it. In overall, journals provide the teacher with a complete evaluation of each student’s progress. This is an excellent tool to show parents during conferences.

2 comments:

Ron Mancini said...

In your blog, you said that you "noticed how keeping a learning log or journal is a perfect method for ELL students to express themselves. It is also a great tool for students to develop their reading and writing skills. As brought out in the reading packet, “students are often amazed to see their own growth and development over time." This reminded me of an article I read for another class. Besides being a great way for students to express themselves, journals can be used to help teachers get to know their students betters. Because ELL students often do not feel confident speaking English, they are seen as very shy people. If journals are used for free writing in class, there is an opportunity for students to share information with their teachers that they might not normally feel comfortable speaking about. Also, by having students write on a regular basis, their writing skills will improve over time. Spelling and grammar will improve because the more practice students have with writing, the better their writing skills will become.

Elizabeth said...

Keeping a journal works hand-in-hand with portfolios. I find this a great tool especially with ELL students. With a journal students can keep track of their progression along with write questions they have to be asked at a later date. Because ELL students are still learning English they may come across something foreign to them and with the use of a journal can keep track of things to ask their ELL teacher for clarification. A journal can be a personal affect for students also. If they want to keep track of their thoughts on lessons, how they feel they're progressing, and even ideas they come up with. By having students do this they are advancing their writing skills without knowledge of it being work, which all students hate doing work especially extra work. I feel that if you as a teacher decide to have your students keep journals they should be reviewed every so often so well as being a regular activity not just once in a while. This way you wiill get to know your students better and what is on their minds.