Learning Log

Interactive Learning Logs 

Most teachers are required to post either standards, benchmarks, goals and/or essential questions in the classroom.  But research shows that the student needs to interact with those ideas, make them his/her own.  The Learning Log helps make those interactions happen, and provides a written record of the student's learning journey.

Before you decide on the actual format, read the guidelines below and think about how this will work in your classroom.

Big Ideas, Standards & Goals-Copy and put in LL by cutting out and using a glue stick to attach to a page, or have students write in.

Always include some initial response format such as a graphic organizer or KWL-type entry to help the child CONNECT. Or say “Draw a picture/write one sentence about an experience you’ve had with TOPIC.” If you need to model, choose something very ordinary and low-key.  If you show/tell something particularly dramatic, many younger students tend to try to one-up. 

            Always include a response to some problem or question, and this may be associated with classroom experiences or outside exploration or research.  This would serve as a formative assessment.

            Always include a final reflection.  This should be closely tied to a goal and would serve as a formative or summative assessment.  You may use this as an  ELA and a content grade.

            Plan ahead and decide if there will be interim predictions, responses, or reflections.  This is where you have to be aware of saving space in case you need to have students enter additional Big Ideas, Standards or Goals regarding ANOTHER topic.  If you have more than one you will give students a different color post it to mark those pages after counting ahead. 

            Students will probably use1- 2 pages (or 1 front and back) per goal.

SET UP

            You will be choosing between a bound composition notebook, a spiral notebook, or a prong/pocket duo-tang type folder, preferably plastic.

            Decide if you want to separate the content areas or just integrate everything.  If you see yourself integrating everything, keep it general.  When we are reflecting and responding, an entry may cover several content areas.  Remember, the whole idea of integration is to make connections. 

However, if you are determined to separate content areas, the instructions will be different.

                                                    (Tomorrow, step by step instructions.)