Combining different content areas into one subject or class can be challenging, but with learning logs, teachers have found that "students reflect on what they are learning and learn while they are reflecting what they are learning". This combination is a beautiful pairing because students are restating what was learned as they practice their writing skills and use of mathematics voabulary. Teachers feel confident about using learning logs for assessing student's knowledge along with assessing their teaching. Using learning logs is a guilt-free way to incorporate writing into the math classroom because the emphasis on math is still present. Using regularly scheduled writing in logs keeps a consistent importance of writing so students and teachers remember the necesity of wrtiting and keeps students in the habit of thinking about math. It is beneficial to see the teacher model reflection because it establishes value and effort. Effort is a large part of these enteries because there isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer, but justification and explaination is vital. Learning logs can be short or longer, reflect a specific assingment or lesson or a longer unit or project. They do not need to take much time and can be looked at brifly or more in depth depending on prompt. They can be prompted or self-reflective. Teachers can respond individually or as a whole and writing or verbally but feedback is important.
Draper, R. J, & McIntosh, M.E. (2001). Using learning logs in mathematics: writing
to learn. Mathematics Teacherq, 94(7), Retrieved from
http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/courses/rdla230/docs/session_3_mcintosh.pdf
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