Learning logs are useful tools for all content areas.  Less personal than a journal, logs focus on recording learning as it occurs.  When students write learning logs, they are asked to record thought processes, ideas, questions, etc.  Teachers can use logs to determine what and how a student is learning.  In some cases, learning logs can be used as a form of writing to demonstrate learning.  Below, you will find a list of uses for learning logs.

Daily Logs

Dance Logs

Viewing Logs for Film

Reading Logs for Independent Reading

Reading Logs for Teacher-Assigned Reading
 
 
 

Daily Logs
Students record what was studied in class each day.  Logs can be turned in daily, weekly, or as necessary.  Here's a printable form you can use to keep up with these daily logs.
 
 

Dance Logs
I use instructional dance videos to teach my students about dance throughout the world.  In addition to teaching the steps, most of these videos discuss the history of the dance as well.  Before I had students write, I found that it was difficult to make the connection between the movement and the purpose and the history of a dance.  The silliness that evolved as we attempted to dance put an end to learning about the dance.

Dance Logs helped to strike a balance between fun, silliness, and learning.  I have my students complete a log for each dance we learn in class.  We stop periodically to write about what we are doing (describing the movements using dance terminology), what we are learning (notes about the background that surface in the video), and what we our thinking (our insights and thoughts about the entire experience).  Through writing, my students have been able to make stronger connections between history, culture, and dance.

Handout

This can be adapted to any hands-on activity.
 

Reading Logs for Teacher-Assigned Reading

Excellent approach for difficult texts.  Divide the text into sections (preferably breaking the text into logical blocks).  Have students stop at the end of each section to write a summary and a reaction. (Or, use this printable form.)  This helps students approach a difficult text methodically.

Summary	Reaction	Teacher Commentary
Achilles chased  Hektor and strode off the chase to tell about springs they were running by.	A great chase going on like a child running away from a monster in  a nightmare.  Then it nose dives into a flowery meadow of boredom when the part about the springs arise.	This student obviously understood this section of The Iliad because he is able to accurately summarize what happened.  The reaction shows the student is making connections between the text and the real word.  In addition, he is able to express his opinion ("flowery meadow of boredom").

Summary	Reaction	Teacher Commentary
Hektor ponders about the upcoming battle against Achilles.  He tries to decide what to do:  fight Achilles or give Helen back.	How the Greeks considered death to be honorable and how a warrior confronts a problem.  How Homer showed the glory, shame, or agony of a person or group of people.	The summary does not need to be lengthy to achieve the goal of distilling the text.  Responses can be written informally, using phrases, bullets, etc.

Students record when they read, what they read, and what they think.  Students can keep these in a journal-type book or on note cards.

Handout
 

Viewing Logs for Film
Students can keep a learning log to record plot and cinematic techniques of a particular film.  Logs can be designed to encourage interpretation and evaluation.   

Handout 1
This handout is great for a detailed analysis of many aspect of a film. The film can be broken into multiple, significant segments, with teacher or student recording the counter readings.  

Handout 2
This handout allows students to focus on one aspect of a film.  The teacher can specify the film focus:  plot, mise-en-scene, cinematography, etc.    

Student Sample for The Day the Earth Stood Still (Viewing Day One) 

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