Journal writing is an expressive form of writing that teachers in all curricula can use to help their students increase writing fluency, facilitate learning, and promote cognitive growth. It combines the positive aspects of diaries and class notebooks, focusing on academic subjects from a personal point of view. Teachers can assign journal entries not only as homework, but also to begin or end classes, at the start of lectures, or to interrupt/refocus class discussions. Used in these ways, journal writing acts as a learning catalyst and as a clarifying activity, directing student attention toward a particular subject while providing writing practice and a permanent record to which the student can refer when preparing for a test or writing a more formal composition. Although teachers do not have to read student journals or comment about their content, positive comments and suggestions about student journals can serve to improve effective use of the journals. Teachers can even keep their own journals--not only as an example for their students to follow, but also as a means of constant self-evaluation. (RL)