Creating Beauty
Writing has many purposes, but one of the most valuable in today's society is using writing as an expressive tool. This can be done in so many ways, but it is important to allow students to experiment with using writing to express their thoughts and feelings. Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher said it best in their new book 180 Days, "We vary the prompts to inspire students and we resist turning notebook practice into a task. For students who initially don't invest in notebook writing, we persist. We continue to work, to write, and to invite our students into writing because it provides such important riches for those who try--who make the notebooks a catchall for joy and struggle and essential experiments that light fires in their imaginations."

Reflections

Having students reflect on experiences is another great way to encourage self awareness and personal learning. Reflections are most often done as a written paragraph in school, but can you think of another way to have students reflect? Reflections about traumatic events (school shootings, abuse, emotional lessons in school, etc.) also help students wrap their heads around their own thoughts and feelings regarding the event or topic. 

Poetry

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, 'O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?' Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"  

John Keating in ​Dead Poets Society

Poetry in all its forms is a beautiful way to help students express their thoughts and feelings. My favorites are blackout/found poetry and slam poetry.

Journaling

Learning to just record thoughts during challenging times as well as the good can be very therapeutic for students. As they write about their day, times of frustrations and excitement, times of triumph and sorrow, they learn important coping mechanisms to deal with stress and grief. Ultimately, students learn to become more self aware and develop a stronger sense of self. Keeping a curiosity journal, a gratitude journal, a fallen leaf journal, bullet journal, etc. not only develop personalization but ownership.

Recording of Thoughts/Feelings through collages and scrapbooking

Some students really take hold to the idea of scrapbooking journals and reflections. Those who feel their drawing ability is lacking can find solace in being able to use the work of others to depict their thoughts and feelings. This can be a fun exercise to help build up one's concept of self, or an ongoing project.

See Some Examples