What should a teacher do periodically with student journals?

The most effective approach for a teacher regarding student journals involves actively engaging with the content by collecting them and providing feedback. This method fosters a supportive learning environment, encourages self-expression among students, and allows educators to assess student understanding and progress. Providing feedback is essential as it helps students reflect on their writing, understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and promotes their overall growth in writing and critical thinking skills.

In this context, simply suggesting innovative uses without reading the journals would miss the opportunity for meaningful interactions that can benefit students. Offering no feedback at all would hinder a student's development and limit their opportunities to enhance their writing skills. Teaching formal essay writing methods exclusively overlooks the unique benefits that reflective journal writing can provide, such as fostering creativity and personal voice in students’ writing. Therefore, collecting journals and offering constructive feedback is the most comprehensive way to support students in their learning process.