Measurement and evaluation are considered an integral part of teaching processes and are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of learning activities. In this context, journals are a powerful tool that can comprehensively develop a student’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills in accordance with the assessment principles prescribed by the Turkish Language Teaching Program, while also providing a student-centered learning experience. Journaling practices ensure that students are continuously engaged in self-expression, offering opportunities to reflect on their learning processes and experiences. Additionally, they allow teachers to continuously observe students’ development, provide instant feedback, and make personalized guidance based on individual student needs. Journals, with their multidimensional benefits, enhance students’ linguistic competencies and encourage deep reflection on language, representing a dynamic and interactive form of assessment beyond traditional testing methods. The purpose of this study is to highlight the significance and functions of using journals as a complementary assessment tool in Turkish education. The research is a theoretically grounded study conducted to enable the practical application of journals, a significant tool for measuring and evaluating academic success and self-expression among students. This paper also makes several recommendations to enhance the applicability and widespread use of journals as an assessment tool in Turkish education.

Turkish education, measurement and evaluation, complementary assessment tool, journal.