Journal Topics for Self Understanding

Lesson Idea: Journal Topics for Personal Growth and Self Understanding

Young Woman Smiling and Writing in a Notebook
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by Melissa Kelly
Melissa Kelly has a master's degree in secondary education and over eight years of experience in the classroom. She is the author of four books.
Updated March 08, 2017

The following journal topics all are geared to help students learn a little more about themselves as they grow in self-understanding. In addition to the topics listed below, associative writing, the writing of thoughts as fast as they come to mind without worrying about sentence structure or punctuation, may be particularly helpful when a student is troubled or experiencing writers' block.

  1. When I need time for myself...
  2. If I could live anywhere
  3. I really miss...
  4. I never expected...
  5. An unusual day in my life
  6. For my birthday I'd like...
  7. The worst gift I ever got...
  8. I daydream most about...
  9. I really wish....
  10. Something few people realize about me
  11. I wish I weren't so...
  12. One of my best points is...
  13. One of my most important goals is...
  14. I dream that one day...
  15. My hardest class is
  16. What makes me feel proud is
  17. I'm glad I'm alive when
  18. Some little things I often forget to enjoy
  19. Associative Writing: Associative writing, also called free writing, requires that the student writes his or her thoughts as fast as they come to mind with no attention to sentence structure or punctuation. The technique may be particularly helpful when a student is troubled or suffering from writers' block. Although I like to teach students how and when to use associative writing, I prefer that they do it outside of class and not as an English assignment.