A study on role of mathematics diaries the related to elimination and determination of students' difficulties

The aim of this study is to examine the role of student diaries, which is one of the alternative assessment techniques in determining student difficulties and suggesting solutions for them.The study has been conducted with students at 7th grade and 8th grade in a primary school in Şahinbey, Gaziantep in 2014 - 2015 academic year. In the study, 18 students from 7th grades and 14 students from 8th grades kept diary. The diaries were collected 2 times per week in 25 weeks. The diaries which were gathered during the study, were analyzed with content analysis with a view to determine the student difficulties and offer solutions. As a result of analysis of the data, in diaries, based on the statements made by the students, various mathematical difficulties were found. In overcoming of these difficulties, the roles of diaries were examined. Based on the examination, it was observed that the diaries have significant potential especially for the determination of difficulties and oriented planning to intervention. Furthermore, it was determined that the diaries have a significant potential in determining student difficulties and in providing suggestions for solutions with the aspects of having detailed knowledge about students' mathematical ways of thinking; assessment of student comprehension as effective; creating opportunities for students to self-assessment, providing the students the opportunity by offering feedback and correction.Depending on the obtained results, teachers are proposed to use student diaries to promote the use of mathematical language and to overcome their student difficulties.