making the most of student journals - tobelta reading and writing conference presentation 9th august...

Making the most of student journals

Sandy Millin

http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/journals

Twitter: @sandymillinsandymillin@gmail.com

What do you mean?

RegularSingle location

Conversation Reflective? Whatever you want!

• 15-20 minutes

• Start of class• Fast finishers

• Every lesson?

• Weekly

• Obligatory?

• Other homework?

When?

In class Outside class

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Who?

• Get notebook

• Start in class

• Discuss why– writing v. speaking– regular

How?

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What?About

you

Answer my

questions

Ask me questionsCoursebook speaking/writing questions

Prompts from

teacher/other

studentsWhatever

you like!

New York Times

150 questions

Journal Jar

Plinky

Poems and

stories

It was good and challenging, but sometimes it is hard to make new topic of writing.

• Correction?

What do I do?

• Assessment?

• Content!

It’s more interesting than other writing exercises, because it implies a conversation (between teacher and

student).

I honestly think that it really helped me, because you corrected my mistakes and I

hope I won’t make them again.

Make language problems obvious. Sometimes I haven’t been aware of this good to know so that I can work on it.

I know my weak point and I will try to improve it.

• Reluctant writers

• Personal

• Time

• Commitment

But…

Well, I think that writing a letter is good way to express your feelings, emotions and

handwriting.

I liked it very much, but I was too lazy to write it(((

I need to have a life!

Oh, yeah, journals, I forgot about them!

Why?In all my other classes I barely wrote. That’s not very good because it’s one of my sticking points in English and therefore it was the perfect exercise for me.

We tried to use the vocabulary we learned before so it was a good way to practise.

It’s also interesting because we wrote about thing we like.

It’s a way of knowing each other better and practicing my writing.

A piece of individual teaching in a large group!!

For the students is good to write about their daily life.

It’s positive to learn about your students.

As you see, I’ve used different ways of expressing my opinion

• Topic choice• Spellings• Grammar auctions• Gaps in vocabulary• Punctuation• Handwriting practice

• Personalised homework

Then what?The journals are a good way to test student’s writing.

You can immediately evaluate them for their writing skill.

My experience

21st century?

Tell me more!

• My blog: Writing journal with students• Adam Beale: Learner diaries• ELTchat: Getting the most out of student journals• ETprofessional Issue 83: Practice makes perfect• Self-expression as a bridge for creative writing• Dialogue journal writing in EFL education• Enhancing EFL learners’ writing skill via journal w

riting

Making the most of student journals

Sandy Millin

http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/journals

Twitter: @sandymillinsandymillin@gmail.com