In addition to merely discussing a question, students may also be asked to engage in other types of thinking. In addition to oral interactions, the classroom pause can also be used for student reflective writing in their journals. Learning Log pauses should be distinguished from the normal notetaking that students may be doing while learning. Learning log entries represent their thinking about the material, not mere recording of information. Teachers frequently use reflective writing to begin a lesson or at the end of a period to pull ideas together.
Students assist each other in constructing personal meanings of important content.
Students are asked to verbalize their learning both to others and to themselves. These strategies can be modified for students from elementary to secondary levels and are appropriate for all content disciplines. The Promise of Theory-Embedded Tools.