Reflective Journaling for Student Teachers: What to Write and Why

Oct 23

Most teacher candidates are told to be reflective, but nobody shows them where to put the reflections. This chapter, for anyone observing classrooms or sitting in education courses, is about keeping a journal: what to ask yourself after an observation, what an entry can look like, and how to make the writing a habit you keep.

This is Chapter 4 of 51 from Road to Teaching (2025 edition). Read the whole book free, in order, at Read the Book.

By Dr. Eric Hougan

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.”Confucius

Writing in a journal is one of the most effective ways to be reflective as well as capture your feelings, thoughts, and observations in a manner that is organized so that you may put them to good use in the future. For example, journaling can serve as an important and helpful tool for evaluating and improving your work by recording your professional growth over time. In addition to assisting with your professional development, writing down your thoughts and feelings on a regular basis can also help with stress management and be an integral part of your self-care routine.

Keeping a journal may also prove to be particularly useful if you are observing classrooms as part of your teacher preparation. With a journal, you can organize your impressions, noticings, and general thoughts about these classroom observations. Below is a short list of questions that could be answered in your journal and a sample journal entry from a classroom observation.

Sample Guiding Questions

What type of classroom did I observe, i.e. mainstream, resource, inclusive?
How is the classroom arranged and/or organized?
What evidence supports that students were learning?
What strategies does the teacher use to address the student’s specific needs?
Are the lessons collaboratively planned across disciplines?
For special education, what support services were utilized?
What instructional technologies were integrated into the lesson?
How did the teacher manage transitions between activities?
In what ways were students actively engaged in their learning?
What were other impressions?

Sample Journal Entry

The first impression that I have from my observations was in a mainstream classroom with a general education teacher and a special education teacher. My overriding impression is the special education teacher was not fully utilized. I was dismayed by the fact that the special education teacher and the general education teachers did not collaborate in their planning, despite the fact that they knew it was a best practice and, ultimately, would benefit all the students. For instance, I noted that one student with ADHD finished his work in nearly half the time than his classmates did. I cannot comment on how accurate his work was, but I do know that he began to act out once he became bored with having nothing to do. In using collaborative planning, the general education teacher and the special education teacher could have developed new and challenging classwork for when this student finished normal classwork earlier than the rest of the class. This potentially would improve the student’s performance and behavior.

The biggest challenge of keeping a journal is carving out time to write on a regular and consistent basis. As it is such a critical tool in professional development, you should strive to make writing in your journal a habit. Here are a few suggestions to help you:

Keep a spiral notebook and pen next to your bed. Before you go to sleep, unwind by unloading all your thoughts into your journal for about 10-15 minutes.
Schedule daily writing time in your calendar as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.
Write directly after a class you have taken or taught when the experience is still fresh.
Create or join a weblog (blog) and post entries regularly. Then, read the advice and words of encouragement posted from other teachers reading your blog.
Use digital journaling apps that sync across your devices so you can capture thoughts wherever you are.
Try voice-to-text features on your smartphone to dictate reflections when you’re short on time.
Consider bullet journaling as a quick, structured way to organize your thoughts if long-form writing feels overwhelming.

If you encounter a writer’s block, below are a few writing prompts:

Outline any advice you have received from mentor teachers or professors
Summarize the day—What were the high and low points?
Highlight ideas you could use in your future classroom
Declare your short- and long-term professional goals
Take note of how you or another teacher dealt with a difficult situation
Describe general impressions about other teachers and students
Reflect on a teaching strategy you observed and how you might adapt it
Consider how diverse learners were supported in a lesson you observed
Identify connections between theory you’re learning and practice you’re observing

By striving to include journal writing as part of your routine, you will continue the teaching process and, in a short time, will begin to see significant personal and professional growth. Ultimately, this growth will help you to create a better learning environment for your students as you continue to collect and use this information to build on your knowledge foundation. Whether you choose digital or analog journaling methods, the key is consistency and authenticity. Your journal should become a trusted companion in your professional journey—a place where you can be honest about your challenges, celebrate your successes, and document your growth as an educator.

Key Takeaway

Establish a sustainable journaling routine that captures your professional growth, classroom observations, and reflections without becoming burdensome. This practice will enhance your self-awareness, provide material for interviews and portfolios, and support your emotional well-being throughout your teaching journey.