2b: Journal writing experience

Over the past week I have tried out different ways to write my journal based on the Reid and Moon framework outlined in the Reader. I have found this a lot more useful than I initially thought I would. I have found techniques that really worked for me and discovered issues in my professional practise that otherwise may not have come to my attention.

“Stream –of-concious writing, in which words are poured out without pause for punctuation, spelling, or self-censorship, can be of value here.” Boud (2001)

This is my natural style of journal writing. This is how I began my journal, I feel it gave me a good start as it allowed me to set up the purpose of the journal and address what I wanted to get out of the journal. I thought this would be a good idea over time to see if I kept focused on those goals that I mentioned.

The first new style I tried out was making a list. In my own personal journals I often use this technique to set out goals or to compare things. I had never used it just to map out my day before. I must admit I found it difficult at first and thought I was writing things that were completely irrelevant. I then began to see connections between thoughts, feelings and events. I decided to colour code the list; I highlighted positive things to take forward with me, things to leave in the past and things to learn from. This way I was able to reflect on certain feelings or events without writing a huge paragraph about each of them.

Here you can see how I've highlighted my lists. I have blurred out some of the writing that I didn't want to be seen.

Next I tried writing in a descriptive style, I was surprised in that I struggled with this one more than I expected to. I wrote down what happened in my day but found it restrictive to my thinking. I wanted to write what came into my head (back to the stream-of-concious thought). Although I can see how it would give more structure to your writing. Reminding yourself when and where you were when something happened will evoke different memories.

I found the initial reflection the easiest style to get going with as I think it is closest to the way I naturally write. I think it was an improvement though as it gave my writing more structure. I wrote the questions I was asking myself before beginning my reflection so it’s easy looking back to follow my train of thought.

Writing my journal through a graph or diagram did not appeal to me at all. How could I work through my issues in this way? Well, easily is the answer. This was the technique that surprised me today. On that particular day I was not working so I was busy doing other things. I did a spider diagram for each of the main events in my day. All of my thoughts seemed to lead back to one thing I was feeling anxious. If you had asked me how my day went I would have said ‘great’, but by following my thoughts through the spider diagram you see the underlying pressures that I have been feeling from various aspects of my life. This was good as it encouraged me to sit down and plan out my week ahead and be realistic about what I could achieve, in my lesson plans, reports, uni work etc.

 
                                                                                               

Writing from another view was fun, I wrote from the point of view of my bag. I picked up on things like my bag being under strain from the weight of what I was carrying around – like me feeling anxious about all the work I had to do. As I got the work under control the day got better and I described how the bag was bouncing around as I began to walk with a little spring in my step. It also allowed me to see what others would be seeing of me if they were observing my classes.

 I wrote about an alternate day - what if - as if I had just heard that I got an audition for a fictional acting job. I wrote about the feelings that would create and the preparation I would have to do. It made me realise that I am missing performing. I have been so busy and focused with teaching recently I haven’t had much time to think about it. It also showed that you really are in control of your own life. You get out what you put in. The only aspect I didn’t like of this technique is I felt I didn’t reflect on my true day.

Overall I have found this experience rather eye opening. I think having techniques to work to has made me more aware. It has also made me think more about who I am writing about – I stop to consider using names before I just write them. Also on more than one occasion it’s made me question my own actions, whether I dealt with the situation correctly. Even small things like children asking you questions not related to drama. You don’t know what their parents have told them/want them to know, so how involved should you get. One of my favourite techniques was the diagrams and lists, as they brought out different points that were not staring me in the face. These techniques mixed with initial reflection are what I will use going forward. I will use the lists or graphs to access my thoughts or what I have learnt and then write more in depth to reflect on that.

 

References

Boud, D. (2001). Using journal writing to enhance reflective practise. In: L. English and M. Gillen, ed., Promoting journal writing in adult education, 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, pp.9-17.

Moon, J. (2004). A handbook of reflective and experiential learning. London: RoutledgeFalmer.