Some teachers find that journal writing is a good way to keep students occupied until class begins. Students keep a notebook that they pull out and write in during the first five minutes of class. The teacher can assign a topic for the day or allow students to write what they want or do a combination of both. Especially in the upper grades, teachers might choose to guide their students' journals to follow the curriculum of the course but then allow them a day of freedom every once in a while where they can just share their thoughts.

The advantage to journal writing is that students get a chance to express themselves about various topics. You can get to know your students a little better through their journals. Journals can provide students with a place to discuss any issues they are having. Sometimes students feel better about asking for help on paper than they do out loud in front of the rest of the class.

Journal writing is also an effective tool for emerging writers. By getting elementary school students to write about their weekend or other interesting topics, they practice this important skill without realizing it. One interesting use of journals beyond the classroom is to send the journal home for extended breaks and ask the students and parents to write to each other in the journal. This helps continue the practice of daily writing and increase parental involvement.

However, journals do pose some problems for teachers. For one thing, they have to be graded. Grading journals takes more time than grading warmups. Also, because of the freedom inherent in journal writing, students can sometimes discuss topics that are inappropriate. It is your job to make sure that students know your expectations about their journals. Just because you are allowing students to share their thoughts and opinions does not mean they have the right to write whatever they want.