So that you can reflect on what you did in the past, and decide if it worked or not. You can also refer back to the journal in future teaching, because some issues may repeat themselves.
Mary,
I've found keeping track of information that tends to vary class to class is most helpful to me. For instance, terms, formulas, facts, comments are the most frequent. I also track observations about students, questions, changes needed or wanted, and any issues that arose during class. Less frequently, I'll enter information that's intangible, such as desired equipment, ways of adding to or modifying the curriculum, or observations about student behavior or why things are done how they're done.
Barry Westling
Well that goes along with organization. If you have a journal it's a good way to see what key points have been taught or not taught in each lesson. If students are weak in certain areas you can then go over what you taught and improve, change or add things to make it more effective for student learning. It's a good way to make certain you are covering everything in the syllabus as well.
Kelsey,
Yep! Teachers wjho journalize find great benefit (usually later on) as they reflect on past events, observations, and comments made. It can be a measure of groth (or indicate lack of).
Barry Westling
Keeping track of what activities were beneficial and those that were not will help in future class planning. Improvement of future course and striving to be the best instructor you can comes from learning from past mistakes.
Patricia,
Wonderful. Even as facilitator I am always impressed with the creative and variety of useful techniques teachers have developed or experienced. So, we all benefit as we actively participate.
Barry Westling
I use a planner extensively and write the odd note in there about something that did or didn't work, but why I have never used this method, I just don't know - never even thought about it! As I've read the posts, its seems like the most obvious thing to do! Thank you for all the nuggets I'm gleaning from these courses - at first I thought they would be burdensome in an already busy life, but I am finding them SO worthwhile.
Gayle,
Right. This can sort of a "time travel - observation deck", where what has transpired before is viewed and reflection on those comments, notations, and occurrences give the teacher a unique view of the growth, maturity, and improvements made over time. Teachers who journalize always comment they get a lot of personal enrichment, along with a reference resource as well.
Barry Westling
Carol,
Teachers who use journals swear by them. They help show something aboutr ourselves in a way that most any other activity cannot. And they they can be a great resource to refer to and to refelect on.
Barry Westling
One can write in the journal what works what does not . We can refer back to our notes for future reference.
This method is not one I use currently, but I can try it in the future.
Jason,
Good thoughts. Also, I think one of the longer term benefits is to reflect on the growth and improvements I've made in my teaching style, manner, approach to students and situations, and response to the ever persistent changes that are thrust on instructors. It's really quite revealing.
Barry Westling
I love this idea of a journal. Reflecting on past experiences and making notes about what worked and didn't is an excellent way to figure out which direction you want to go for the future. This helps ntrepeat past mistakes and gives you the ability to focus on your better techniques!
Billie,
The manner that a teacher tracks notes and personal thoughts is not the focus, but rather the action of doing it. Seasoned teachers who've journalized for years nearly always confirm the benefits this teacher support method provides.
Barry Westling
Kisha,
I have so many ideas that come and go, if I don't record them somewhere, they're gone fover. Journalizing helps me track and document ideas, observations, needs, follow-up, "what if's", and so forth.
Barry Westling
My Teaching Journal is a Mead Composition Book that I have with me or in my car at all times. I am currently an Adjunct Instructor and work a full time Marketing job, too. I jot down teaching ideas, lesson ideas, classroom management ideas, lesson plans etc..into this journal. It has helped me tremendously and keeps me organized. It is fun to go back and read my ideas. A teaching journal has helped me with instructional improvement because it keeps my thoughts organized and helps me remember things that are helpful for my students.
Journal keeping is very helpful as situations develop having a record of the solutions and steps that were taken to resolve the situation is always helpful. This also creates a record which can be referred to in the future.
Daniel,
I think a key statement you've made is "while it's still fresh". For me, I get ideas all the time, none the least is immediate;ly following a class. When think about how it went and could have been done to make it better the next go around., that's what what I want to record because I'm sure to forget at least half of what I thought was imp[ortnat. A journal is a perfect place to record these kind of comments.
Barry Westling
It provides the opportunity to write down some success and improvement needed from the class which was just completed.
While the ideas are fresh in mind, it is important to keep them in a place where later you can look back and build upon these feedbacks.
Eduard,
I like to think "how did that class come across from a student's standpoint?". When I do this, I see a lot of things that " shoulda, coulda, woulda". These make up substance for notations in the journal record.
Barry Westling
