The MISTAKE JOURNAL:

a fun-and-effective way
to help students
LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES

Singing Turtle Press

942 Vuelta del Sur // Santa Fe, NM 87507
Voice: 505/438-3418
Fax: 512/682-0500
Email: info@SingingTurtle.com
Web: SingingTurtle.com

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by Federal Copyright Law. For purchasing info, contact Singing Turtle Press.

Copyright 2006 Singing Turtle Press

 How often have we, as teachers, thought:
"If only I could get my students to LEARN from
their mistakes!"

We try different ways, and some of them work, to varying degrees.

But what if we actually had a worksheet that students could do

as an assignment, and by so doing, regain points lost due to
mistakes.
Singing Turtle Press
I created the Mistake Journal to address this need. 942 Vuelta del Sur
Santa Fe, NM 87507

The Mistake Journal is a single sheet of paper that students ll out to correct mis- Voice: 505/438-3418
Fax: 512/682-0500
takes on tests or quizzes. What's unique about the Mistake Journal is that it gives Email: info@SingingTurtle.com
students a chance not only to write out their mistake and the correct way to work Web: SingingTurtle.com

the problem, but it also gives them space to think through two key questions:
1) What misunderstanding led me to make this mistake? and
2) What can I do or keep in mind to avoid making the same
mistake?

I suggest that teachers allow students to ll out Mistake Journals to regain a

portion of the points they lose on tests and quizzes (I've found that allowing
students to regain 60% of points lost on a test or quiz motivates students to ll out
the Journal, yet it keeps them from becoming dependent on the Mistake Journal.)
To assist you in evaluatting Mistake Journals, I've attached a rubric that works great.

I've also attached four examples of completed Mistake Journals, to help you see
what the real thing looks like.

I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me and my students!

Any Qs, contact me at info@SingingTurtle.com

Best regards,
Josh Rappaport

Copyright 2006 Singing Turtle Press

 Name: __________________________
"MISTAKE JOURNAL"

Mistake I Made Correct Way to Work Problem My Misunderstanding was ...

How I can Avoid this Mistake

Copyright 2006 Singing Turtle Press

 "Mistake Journal Evaluation Rubric "Mistake Journal Evaluation Rubric

Mistake is written accurately (20 pts.) Mistake is written accurately (20 pts.)

Correct version is correct (20 pts.) Correct version is correct (20 pts.)

Understanding of why mistake was Understanding of why mistake was

made makes sense (20 pts.) made makes sense (20 pts.)

Understanding of how to avoid Understanding of how to avoid

mistake truly seems helpful (20 pts.) mistake truly seems helpful (20 pts.)

Overall tidiness (20 pts.) Overall tidiness (20 pts.)

TEACHER COMMENTS: ___________________ TEACHER COMMENTS: ___________________

_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________

"Mistake Journal Evaluation Rubric "Mistake Journal Evaluation Rubric

Mistake is written accurately (20 pts.) Mistake is written accurately (20 pts.)

Correct version is correct (20 pts.) Correct version is correct (20 pts.)

Understanding of why mistake was Understanding of why mistake was

made makes sense (20 pts.) made makes sense (20 pts.)

Understanding of how to avoid Understanding of how to avoid

mistake truly seems helpful (20 pts.) mistake truly seems helpful (20 pts.)

Overall tidiness (20 pts.) Overall tidiness (20 pts.)

TEACHER COMMENTS: ___________________ TEACHER COMMENTS: ___________________

_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________

Copyright 2006 Singing Turtle Press