Not our teachers’ notebooks: Empowering students with work-in progress notebooks

The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.Robert Maynard Hutchins

Binders

• Binders– Keep all graded papers– Organize returned papers in categories– Grade notebook each 6 weeks, then clean it out– Repeat the next 6 weeks– Throw everything away at the end of the year

Works-in-progress notebooks

• 3 sections• 3 Table of contents• Organized as work is done• Nothing ever gets thrown out without discussion

and thought• Student can see progress or repetitive problems• A resource students can return to over and over• Student ownership of their work and the

information they acquire

For ExampleThen Today

• Memorization• Repetitive drills• Worksheets• Occasional typed

assignment• Teacher talks- students

listen• Knew what jobs would

be available

• Active engagement• Problem solving and using skills

within varying contexts• Frequent technology

applications: ipads, laptops, iphones, digital media, social media, apps for anything

• Desire for instant information• Abundant resources to know,

use, and navigate• Future careers changing by the

minute and no one knows what they will be asked to do

Our sections

• Notes– Written notes– Powerpoint notes– Brochure notes– Graphic organizer notes– Foldables– Flip charts

Our sections

• Writing– Prewriting– Writing stems– Truisms– Rough drafts– Final drafts– Journals ----reading and writing

Our sections

• Work– Assignments – Practice work– Questions

Table of Contents

• Each section has its own Table of Contents• Marked by cut right hand corner and colored• Student’s responsibility to update it regularly• Easy access to the variety of information they

have been presented with• Useful organizational strategy• Make students treat notebook more

professionally

Table of ContentsPage Content Date

Ideas

• Character sketches3 x 5 Index card

Create the character:Rules:

• They can only use what they can prove with text evidence

• Text evidence should be quoted on the back in the correct area of the body

• Use the text evidence you have collected to answer short answer questions about characterization

Flipcharts

• 3 x 5 index cards cut in half• Starting at bottom, layer them so a flip box is

available on each card• Tape the top of each• Write key word on flip portion and then lift

and include definitions, examples, pictures, …• Uses: vocab lists, suffix, prefixes, literary terms,

grammar terms, countries organized by continent, etc…

Other ideas

• Baggie books• Pie charts with covered wheel• Brochures with fill-in-the blank notes• Foldable booklets (with or without index

cards)

Pockets

• Half triangle fold• “seat belt”• Taped on pocket• Envelope pockets

Can I keep my notebook at the end of the year?

It helps me keep all my stuff together.

You mean we only need a notebook?

Yes, I have that assignment. See it’s on my page 12.

I remember how we did that and mine is right here. Can I show her?

Can I add to my notebook next year?

A comprehensive test??? Oh, but we can use our notebooks? Whew, I have everything then.

Hey did you notice this is the first time I wrote a whole two pages?

Can I take it home to finish my essay?Can I take it to show my parents?

Why is my notebook not there????