My friend and CLT colleague, Mary, and I have been kicking around ideas for our students' writing notebooks. What will they look like in this time of distance learning? Typically, we start the year with a kind of Unit 0: How to Create a Writer's Notebook, which functions both as a get to know you community building tool and a practical introduction to some of the requirements and other nuts and bolts of the course.
This year, we wondered if we should even have a notebook at all, and if so, would it make sense to have it be virtual. To that end, we researched several options, many involving teacher-created templates using a slides application.
But today, as I dutifully continued my online course, one point they made resonated with me. Everything doesn't have to be online. Students can work with pencil and paper and show you on camera, or upload images of their work.
And suddenly it became clear to me that we should have real notebooks. That way kids could work in them without splitting the screen on their devices (or even using their devices at all), and it would offer another mode of expression that would benefit some learners. Plus, everyone would have something concrete to hold onto in these weird, virtual times, and beyond.
Our school is organizing material and supply pick-ups for students before the year begins, and if we have our way, there will be a writing notebook for every sixth grader included in the package.
This year, we wondered if we should even have a notebook at all, and if so, would it make sense to have it be virtual. To that end, we researched several options, many involving teacher-created templates using a slides application.
But today, as I dutifully continued my online course, one point they made resonated with me. Everything doesn't have to be online. Students can work with pencil and paper and show you on camera, or upload images of their work.
And suddenly it became clear to me that we should have real notebooks. That way kids could work in them without splitting the screen on their devices (or even using their devices at all), and it would offer another mode of expression that would benefit some learners. Plus, everyone would have something concrete to hold onto in these weird, virtual times, and beyond.
Our school is organizing material and supply pick-ups for students before the year begins, and if we have our way, there will be a writing notebook for every sixth grader included in the package.
Yes! I'm so glad you started that course already!
ReplyDeleteHummm...I wonder if we should push for readers notebooks, too. Do you know when they're finalizing the order?
ReplyDelete