Journaling...
With careful planning, journaling can become a useful tool for both students and teachers Through regular and consistent journaling, students become familiar and comfortable expressing themselves through writing. With intentional and meaningful prompts, students develop essential skills such as reflection and empathy. Journals can be used by teachers to receive feedback from students on the school's culture and climate, classroom activities, and topics. Journaling provides an incredible opportunity for teachers to gain an insight into their students' lives. Teachers can use student responses to direct future curriculum, encouraging student interest and empowering student voices.
What issues are you concerned about in your life, your community, or the world?
Junior, Mather H.S.
"It's 2022 and at this point there's so many issues in the world that need to be addressed. Some issues that I always think about is School shootings, Teen Depression and Drug use. School Shootings is a commonly talked about topic but I feel like it affects us kids more nowadays because we're so worried about what will happen if there's one in our school like what do we do? How do we not die? It’s so sad that kids need to practice to hide and protect their own lives when school is supposed to be a safe place..."
Junior, Mather H.S.
"There's a lot of issues that I’m concerned about like global warming and how people do not take global warming seriously. If we don’t do anything about global warming our world will be destroyed. People are just ignoring global warming. We need to keep this world safe by making our voices be heard by those in power."
Junior, Mather H.S.
"I am more concerned about how Chicago violence has gotten this bad, with the gangs with the guns and just with all the violence. You can go all around Chicago and see some type of violence. Even in some schools they have kids already planning their future as a gang member. This has always been an issue and Chicago doesn’t really have the best history with fixing the violence. Some people are just around it all their life so they grow up to become a product of their environment."
Junior, Mather H.S.
"One issue that concerns me is the homelessness in America. As someone whose family comes from poverty it hurts to see people struggle just as much as we did back then. When people are well off, they live. Some people are forced to have every waking moment of their lives be a 50/50 chance on whether they survive or not, that is no way people should live. Along with how the city reacts to homelessness, they don’t want to help, they oppress. The anti-homeless benches, the spiked bridges, the policemen who arrest homeless people just for having a starbucks cup with a coins in them, it’s all so wrong."
What challenges do I encounter in school? What resources do I have to overcome those challenges? What areas am I still trying to improve on?
Junior, Mather H.S.
"Some challenges I face at school are homework. I have always been a procrastinator and not always turning in my homework on time, I don’t always ask for help when I need it. Some resources I have is my mother to encourage me more or if ask questions she can answer it as best she can. Some other resources I have is tutoring that I go to understand the topic better which really helps because not all teachers can be with you 1 on 1 so tutoring is good because they explain the material better and make sure you understand before you leave."
Junior, Mather H.S.
"I might just be one of many students speaking about these issues. Throughout the day I get very hungry and I can't focus. Having lunch at the end of the day doesn’t bother me but the school lunch does, it is the same thing everyday and it just isn’t good eating pizza everyday at school. I’d rather go through all of school without eating and leave early because having lunch one hour before we leave doesn't work. Some resources I have are my counselor and the principle, but they might have bigger problems they have to deal with everyday such as drugs and fights happening in the school. They’re not going to be worried about fixing lunch policies. This might just be a small issue but it could be changed to make students more comfortable in the school"
Junior, Mather H.S.
"A challenge most students face is using their mobile phones. Although it is an important policy to not use your phones during class, some students cannot resist the urge to open up that notification, this results in either getting their phone taken away for the entire class or the entire school day. We have resources that could improve the school’s policy. Like for example sending emails to the principal or writing up a google form about something. The school is very welcome if we could provide something that could improve the current policies."
Junior, Mather H.S.
"So far this school year has been really draining. I face a lot more challenges this school year. For example this year we get a lot more work. I get that it’s normal because we are juniors now and this year matters but my AP class especially gives a lot of homework out and sometimes I just don’t have time to do it. When I get home I have to go to work and by the time I get back I’m tired and end up forgetting how to do it or needing help on it."
Teaching in response to these journal entries...
These journal prompts were given at the beginning of the semester and I was immediately impressed by how conscious the students were of so many different and important issues our world faces. The students were concerned about gun control, school shootings, homelessness, climate change, mental health and more. In response to these journal entries, I made a deliberate effort to allow my students the choice to pursue any of these issues in their future activities. As we progressed through our civics curriculum, students used their own chosen topics to learned about how they can become advocates and make their voices heard. The semester's summative assessment was a project designed in response to increased student interest in gun control.
As my students reflected about the challenges they face in school and the resources they have to overcome those challenges, I was able to learn about my students' daily experiences. For example, several of my students work full-time jobs after school or were already living on their own, away from family. These kinds of schedules and responsibilities can put a lot of stress on a student, especially if students are enrolled in AP courses or classes which require a large amount of home work. In response to these journal entries, I made a deliberate effort to enough provide time in my class to complete activities. When students are at home, they should have the ability to unwind and use their time as they see fit.