1. Print out the journal pages. You’ll only need to print the cover page (click here for PDF) once for each child, but you should print 10–20 copies of the main journal pages (click here for PDF) to make a journal which your kids can use on multiple occasions.
2. If not filled out already, hand out a copy of the My Observation Journal cover page to each child and ask them to draw a picture of themselves on this page and to write their name.  Have them then fill out the second page with their observations for the day.  Make sure that they complete the “data” section on the left.

After your students have spent some time on their journals, bring them together to have a quick discussion.  What are some of the things they noticed?  What descriptive words did they use?  Ask them to share what they wrote in the data section – does everyone have the same information?  Brainstorm with your students around ways that they might gather their pages together into a book.  Some suggestions are using three-ring binders, stapling the pages together, binding them with yarn or a book binding machine, etc.  Tell them that they’ll be filling out this journal throughout the year to make a book that they can keep.

Have your students finish their journal entries, then bind all of the pages together using staplers, hole punches, etc.  The next time you give your students a chance to record their observations, drawings and thoughts, hand out their journals—by the end of the year, they can have a journal detailing their experiences!

• Drawings are a great way for younger children and students who do not speak English to participate in the process of reflection; and these drawings can help you as you assess these students’ progress.