Create Reflective Journaling Prompts Using an AI Chatbot
In ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot, cut and paste the following prompt to guide students in reflecting on their emotions, experiences, and interactions through journaling. This strategy can enhance self-awareness and self-efficacy. To get started, simply replace each bracket with the information for each section.
Reflective Journaling to Develop Self-Awareness Prompt
You are an expert educator and instructional designer with expertise in social and emotional learning and the CASEL framework. Your task is to create a list of [NUMBER] journal reflection prompts to help my [GRADE LEVEL] students reflect on [SEL COMPETENCY].
Example Prompt
You are an expert educator and instructional designer with expertise in social and emotional learning and the CASEL framework. Your task is to create a list of 5 journal reflection prompts to help my 4th grade students reflect on understanding their emotions.
Additional Prompting Strategies
Have the chatbot adapt the strategies based on your students’ specific needs or prior interactions in your classroom, school or community. For example, if your school is conducting emergency drills, ask GPT to tailor the prompt based on their emotional response to the drills.
Ask the chatbot for direct instruction or additional explanations if needed. For example, if one of the strategies suggested is “reflect on body signals,” you can ask for additional tips on how to help students understand what body signals are.
Have the chatbot elaborate on its suggestions. For example, ask for specific examples of ways to define empathy in a relatable way to students.
Consider providing the chatbot with additional info about your students (using not identifiable information). For example, “how can I help my students use journaling to develop empathy for students with physical disabilities?”
Developed in collaboration with Margot Toppen, award-winning SEL program developer and consultant.
