Reflective Journal Writing
A reflective journal is a place to keep your thoughts and ideas. You do not have to worry as
much about spelling or grammar or punctuation. You may write in a free flowing pattern. It is a
place to express emotions, ask questions, and let off steam, anger, or frustrations. Your reflective
journal is different from your observations of clients in. Observations need to record facts in a
detached, impersonal, unprejudiced way during the event being observed. Your reflective
journal, however, can be full of emotions, feelings and your innermost thought. It can be written
at the end of the day. I highly recommend that you write it as soon after your coop work as
possible. You may want to begin by stating what tasks you completed at coop, and then you add
the reflective piece. When. ……(such and such happened) I felt___________,
because______________. Therefore, I hope… I need… I want…
The reflective journal is useful if you want to:
1) express worry concerning something, 2)engage in self-examination, 3) pose theories
about behavior, 4) explore solutions, remedies, strategies, 5) record something that
pleased or delighted you 6) ask questions
Advantages:
It provides an outlet for emotions.
It may help to clarify and expand thinking.
It provides a record of your professional development.
It gives you an opportunity to notice changes in your thinking and attitudes.
Remember to:
Review your journal from time to time to examine changes in thinking and attitudes.
It will be helpful as you write your paper
Keep it secure and private. Not at your coop/work site.
Get in the habit if writing in it every week – every coop day is ideal.
Use only initials or a letter to identify people. Do not use names, which could be
identified if seen by others.
Put a date on each entry.
Turn it in as assigned
Reflective Journal: Use loose-leaf notebook paper; include thoughts and feelings about your
own growth. Entries must be made on a regular basis. The journal will be graded on the
regularity and the apparent effort and thought put into the journal. These can be free
flowing thoughts, feelings and ideas. There are no right or wrong thoughts or feelings. Do not
worry about spelling or grammar constructions as long as I am able to read and understand what
you are trying to say. Those students who put their thoughts, feelings and ideas down on paper in
a reflective manner on a regular basis will earn the best grades. Your reflective journal will,
hopefully, demonstrate ways you are feeling and thinking about what you are learning. These
will be your “Aha” moments, your feelings about, or your “I wonder ifs…”
For your first journal entries, if you have a hard time getting started, this is what I suggest:
Record tasks you have been assigned.
Then make statements about the tasks that begin with
I wonder….
Or
Record tasks you have been assigned.
Then use reflective statements.
o When… I felt… because…. Therefore, I want, (hope,) (need)…
For example:
When the supervisor asked me to file the papers on her desk while she was at the
staff meeting, I felt disappointed, because I had hoped to attend the group meeting
with her. Therefore, in my conference with her next week, I am going to discuss
the possibility of my attending staff meetings in the future.
Be sure and date each entry. Please put each entry on loose-leaf notebook paper. Bring as
assigned.
Contributed by B. High Rounds