32. A Format For Diary Writing

[Kerala University English Teacher Educator’s Forum - KUETEF]

Some colleges in addition to the practice of making trainees write a Diary during the two spells of Practice Teaching, insist on writing diary every day. Unfortunately many trainees tend to turn the diary entry into a mere record of daily events. A typical Diary entry would look more or less, like this:

“ I reached college at 9.15 am, Mr. X engaged a class on Educational Psychology. Then we had our optional classes. Our optional teacher taught us ‘....’. The first two periods of the after noon session was free because the teacher was absent. The last period we had Physical Education class”.

Well, don’t you think..., such writing is meaningless? Only trainees who are really bright and good at studies will make an attempt to reflect on what they learned that day.


This academic year (2010-2011), I am planning to make my trainees observe the following format for writing a diary entry:

In addition to details of day, date, time, name of teacher educator and topic taught, they should write a two-line summary of the content taught during the period. Each day’s write-up should conclude with a reflection on what the trainee learned that day with regard to class room practices. These could include the following:

•Any novel teaching strategy/ Principle you have learned.

•Problems in classroom transaction you have learned, with specific reference to the role of the teacher and the learner in addressing such problems.


Well friends, do post your valuable comments...

C.Praveen
Secretary, KUETEF