The Effects Of Journal Writing On Student Achievement In Sixth Grade Mathematics PDF Download

This study explored the outcomes of journal writing in the math classroom on students with learning disabilities. It specifically looked for the outcomes journal writing would have on students with learning disabilities' grades in the math class, and on their attitudes about math in general. The study was done on five sixth grade students with learning disabilities; three males and two females. An exam was distributed to the students both before and after the implementation of journal writing, to see the outcomes journals had on student grades. Students were also given a 20 question attitude scale before and after the journal writing research. A journal writing evaluation was then distributed to all of the participants to reflect on their experience. Data from the study indicated that journal writing has a positive effect on student grades because the majority of the students increased their math grades. Three out of the five participants increased their math grades based on the exam they took, while one student's grade stayed the same and another student's grade went down. This student however was absent for two of the journal writing days during the study. The research data also suggests that journal writing can have a positive effect on students with learning disabilities' attitudes towards math because three of the five participants' attitudes became more positive after the study was implemented. The study recommends the use of journal writing as an alternate teaching tool for educators and an additional form of assessment for students with learning disabilities.