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Jammin Jay
8 years ago

I as a student actually enjoy drama journals- At the beginning of the year I wrote a drama journal entry that was in my eyes inspirational, and right now I am reading through this website to do a journal entry that my teacher assigned. It has to do with why we keep the journal in the first place. I really hope other students see these things the way I see it.

Kimberley
8 years ago

Great article! For years I’ve used these cool journals I’ve developed and re-shaped each year depending on the students/units/assessment. My school is huge on technology (as am I), so I’ve done a big shift and moved to having my students document all of their comments using Google classroom. For more informal day to day short reflections – I will simply pose some questions to them as an “announcement” on Google classroom – and then they answer in the comments field below my questions – they can also all read each other’s comments – which helps with further classroom discussion. For longer more formal reflections, I create an assignment on Google classroom and the students attached a google doc with their reflections to this. It is a fantastic way of keeping track of work, for me to read and then add comments etc. So far so good.

Vicky
9 years ago

Thanks for the insights

Valerie Miller
10 years ago

I struggle to get my students to write journals – they don’t embrace it as I did. You do get the occasional student who loves it and does a brilliant job – usually a female and very rare. I have just started a blog using wordpress for Year 11 Drama and will introduce it next year with Year 10 Drama. For year 7 this year I am giving them a prepared booklet to guide them. As my Year 9 drama are still growing as journal keepers I am going to provide them with a workheet that acts as a guide throughout the term.

Mari Adams
Reply to  Valerie Miller
10 years ago

Valerie, I am curious how this worked out for you this year – specifically using the prepared booklet and the worksheet. Would you be willing to share what you used? I’m very interested in seeing them!

Thanks!

Lizzy Simes
10 years ago

This is a really helpful insight. I grew up with drama journals as well, and being a naturally reflective person I have always been a fan. But I think you are right; there are new ways with technology these days to make journalling or blogging more interesting. I think also if the students are asked to comment on each other’s work they will learn more from other’s reflections. It also allows you as a teacher to monitor when the journalling is done (i.e. not all at the last minute!!)

I think though that developing the skill of being able to write about drama is very important over video blogs. This is a skill that the students will need not just for in class essays but for WACE exams; and it is good for them to be comfortable with writing with drama terminology before then.