Out of this World Literacy

Literacy Resources from Jen Bengel

Notebooks

How to Set Up a Writer’s Notebook

Welcome to this super helpful blog post in setting up writer's notebooks.

The biggest piece of advice I could give any teacher of writing is to keep your own notebook as well.

You want to model what lifelong writing looks like. You want to take your students on a writing journey as you write alongside them. They need to see you as a writer. They want to help you as a writer.

You will exponentially increase that writing success by modeling writing and keeping your own writer's notebook.

Don't worry, you can cheat and use the same one year after year 😉😜 The kids will never know.

I recommend adding to your notebook each year. This is also amazing because as the years go on you can show students that you have been writing for some time, and it's not just during the writing workshop either!

With that said, let's dive into the parts of a writer's notebook.

Students will record their finished writing projects throughout the year.

Have students copy the mini-lesson statement each day and one example. This will make the learning last all year and not just 15 minutes for one day!

This is the largest section of the notebook, where students will plant ideas that could turn into writing projects. Have them date each entry and create a new page for each seed so they have space to come back and write more in the future.

Students can learn a lot about writing by learning from other writers in the room, published writing, and you! Keep a record of all the new learning and reflect on it often.

Here are your tabs!

These are a couple of ideas for getting started with your writer's notebooks.

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Inside Vocabulary Notebooks

Let me show you the inside of a vocabulary notebook.

Why Vocabulary Notebooks Rock!

  • Keep all the learning in one spot throughout the year.
  • Keep a collection of words, like a personal word wall.
  • Perfect to use as a reference for other subjects like writing.
  • Awesome for reflecting on new learning and retaining new words.
  • A place to go deeper with vocabulary words, make connections to other words, bring them into your own life.

What You Need:

  1. One spiral notebook for every student.
  2. Extra durable post-it tabs (3 per student)
  3. A fine marker to write with

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The Tabs in a Notebook:
**use front and back pages of the notebook

  1. My Words (35 pages)
  2. Connections (65 pages)
  3. In My Life (40 pages)

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I hope you can enjoy vocabulary notebooks with your students as much as I love them!

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Happy teaching!
Jen

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How to Create Spelling Notebooks

I get asked all the time about my spelling notebooks and how they are set up, SO….

I decided to put together this blog post, with helpful FREEBIES that will guide you through setting up and improving your spelling notebooks!

SMART TIP: Teach a mini lesson to your class about the purpose and value of spelling notebooks so that they can understand why notebooks are so valuable.  I've included a detailed lesson for FREE if you choose to download the free printables for extra support.

SMART TIP: You only need a one subject notebook for each student.  That should last all year.SMART TIP: When you head out to purchase your tabs, be sure to grab the Post-It Durable Tabs. They will stick all year!

TAB ONE:

  

SMART TIP: Have students copy the weekly spelling mini lesson and the class list of words generated into their notebooks each Monday.  They can choose most of their own spelling words for the week from this list!SMART TIP: You can fit two lessons on one page, and all the spelling learning can be used week after week.

TAB TWO:

  

SMART TIP: In this section students make ongoing lists of words they still need to learn and can add to future spelling lists.SMART TIP: Students add words to the ‘spelling words' section that they get incorrect on spelling tests each week.

SMART TIP: Students integrate writing into spelling by adding words they commonly misspell in writing into the ‘words from writing' section.  These words can be added to any weekly test.

SMART TIP: Students integrate reading into spelling by adding words to the ‘words I like' section that they find interesting and wants to learn to spell.

TAB THREE:

  

SMART TIP: Have students take their practice tests in their spelling notebooks so they can keep track of all the words and patterns they are learning.

TAB FOUR:

  SMART TIP: Have students take their weekly tests in their spelling notebooks so they can keep track of all the words and patterns they are learning.SMART TIP: Have students take the spelling test twice.  Cut the page in half, glue one into the notebook and send one home so parents can see the weekly spelling test grade.

TAB FIVE:

  SMART TIP: Extend students' learning beyond a weekly list of words to memorize.  Help them think beyond the week and it's list of isolated word by completing this organizer each week and gluing it into their spelling notebooks.SMART TIP: You can download this organizer, the spelling list page, a spelling checklist to get started with notebooks, and more by clicking the download banner below!I hope you enjoy your spelling notebooks!!

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3 Steps to Creating the BEST Reading Notebooks!

I've had so many teachers ask me about reader's notebooks and what are the best methods to set up and use them.These are the three BIG questions I get asked all the time!

Let's take a few minutes and walk through my best answers to each.

Not only will I answer these questions today, I am also offering some valuable FREE RESOURCES to support you as you work with reader's notebooks!

FIRST, here are a few reasons why notebooks are so awesome!

QUESTION #1…

I've spent a ton of time trying out many different ways to set up my reader's notebooks over the years.

I wouldn't even argue with the fact that I became obsessed with finding the MOST COMPREHENSIVE and BEST PRACTICE strategies.

Because I was obsessed, I tried out lots of different set-ups until I finally discovered the best set-up ever!

WHAT YOU NEED TO SET UP YOUR NOTEBOOKS…

SMART TIP:  If you don't have 3-subject notebooks, you can use a one-subject notebook, but it will likely only last half a year.  Simply shorten each section that I describe below.

SMART TIP: When you head out to purchase your tabs, be sure to grab the Post-It Durable Tabs. They will stick all year!

TAB ONE:

SMART TIP: Have students write in the title, author, genre, and date as they complete reading books independently.  They do not have to write down books that you read as a class or in a guided reading group.

SMART TIP: Use the FREE “Books I've Read” form for your reader's notebooks!

TAB TWO:

SMART TIP: Have students copy the mini lesson statement and only one example into their notebooks.  This keeps all their learning in one place for the whole year!!

TAB THREE:

 

SMART TIP:  Have students glue in graphic organizers they use to respond to their reading during independent reading time.

SMART TIP: Have students bring their notebooks to the share at the end of the reading workshop.  Ask them to share with a partner what they wrote in this section during independent reading today.

TAB FOUR:

SMART TIP: Assign 3-4 students each day to turn in a letter about what they are reading.  This way you'll be answering only a few letters a day.

SMART TIP:  This is COMPLETELY worth your time!  Not only do the students LOVE to get their letters back from you, you are also teaching letter writing skills, AND getting more insight into how they are thinking as readers.  You can use what they put in their letters, and what the DON'T put in their letters, as data that will drive your instruction!

SMART TIP:  If a student struggles with letter writing or never turns in his/her letter on the scheduled date, simply switch the order around so that you are writing first and the student is responding to you.  Ask questions that will help the student respond.

QUESTION #2…

USE NOTEBOOKS THROUGHOUT THE READING WORKSHOP:

MINI LESSON: Students copy mini lesson statement and one example into the “Mini Lessons” section.

INDEPENDENT READING: Students spend a few minutes responding to their reading in written form.  They can use a graphic organizer and glue it into their notebooks or write a response in the “Reading Responses” section.

THE SHARE: Students bring their notebooks to the share and talk about what they wrote in their notebooks during independent reading time.

Feel free to use this mini lesson to help you launch your notebooks.

SMART TIP: Create your own class set of routines and leave them up as an anchor chart.  OR, have students write the routines on the front cover of their notebooks.

SMART TIP: Get the FREE organizer to set up your notebook routines here.

QUESTION #3…

I get this question all the time, so I have created some grading rubrics you can download for FREE below.

MY BEST GRADING TIPS:

BOOKS I'VE READ: You can grade this section every few weeks to see if students are keeping up with their reading logs.  Collect all the notebooks every other week, or grade half the class one week and the other half the next week.  This can be a quick assessment!

MINI LESSONS: When you are checking the reading logs you can also quickly check this section every few weeks to ensure students are writing the class lessons and an example for each day.READING RESPONSES: Grade 1-2 entries from this section each week so that you can keep track of how students are responding to their reading.

READING LETTERS: Grade the letters each time.  students will write a letter ever 2-3 weeks depending on how many you assign each day and your class size.  2-3 weeks is a great time span for letter writing.

If you follow the steps and smart tips above you will have your reader's notebooks up and running or current notebooks improved in no time!

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Day Eighteen: 4 Reasons Writers Keep a Writer’s Notebook

Learn the real reasons why writers keep a notebook, and use these reasons to teach your students to see themselves as writers.  Build a sense of purpose around having a writer's notebook.

WATCH MY LIVE VIDEO AND LEARN THE 4 REAL REASONS WHY WRITERS KEEP A WRITER'S NOTEBOOK.

4 Reasons Writers Keep a Notebook jenbengelwebinars.com
Posted by Out of This World Literacy on Monday, June 27, 2016

 
 
 
 
 

Day Seventeen: 5 Ways to Plant Seeds in Writer’s Notebooks

I hope you find this blog post helpful when you are starting out writing with your students.  I've found these strategies to not only help students get started writing and avoid any writer block, but also to help them build their writing stamina!

Are you looking for some new ways to motivate students when writing in their writer's notebooks?

CLICK HERE to see reading and writing lessons for the entire year for grades 2-6.

To try free week of lessons, CLICK HERE

WATCH MY LIVE VIDEO AND LEARN

 5 UNIQUE FORMAT TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PLANT SEEDS IN THEIR WRITER'S NOTEBOOKS.

5 Ways to Plant Seeds in the Writer’s Notebook jenbengelwebinars.com
Posted by Out of This World Literacy on Friday, June 24, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
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