I never stop learning because life never stops teaching.: Writer's Notebooks

As we begin to think about the end of the school year, teachers begin to consider what they will do differently next year. It is also the time of year that we are asked to create our team supply list for the following school year. So sometimes we need to make these decisions sooner rather than later. After reflecting on what my students used as a writer's notebook, I decided to add a composition notebook to the team supply list again this year.

There are so many different ways for our students to practice their writing skills. I have attended trainings, read books, and blogs that have provided input to what teachers are using in their classrooms with their students. Teachers have successfully used notebooks created from technology, spirals, composition notebooks, folders and many other tools. The key is to find what works for you as the teacher as well as the students.

This school year I asked for my students to purchase a composition notebook to use as their writer's notebook. I have been very pleased with the durability of this tool. The students use this resource on a daily basis in my classroom. The notebook is a place for the students to reference mini lessons, quick writes, mentor texts, rubrics, and so much more.

The following pictures are some examples from my students writer's notebooks. I hope these pictures help you as you make your decisions for next year!

If you are looking for other additional resources or ideas about writer's notebooks check out these two books!

A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher
Notebook Know How - Strategies for the Writer's Notebook by Aimee Buckner

Students grab their class hour's bins. Two bins per hour. Each hour has the students writing notebook. One student from each neighborhood (table group) grabs their neighbor's notebooks - usually 3-5 students per neighborhood.

This year we used an index/table of contents. When the students came into class they added an entry to their notebook as per what was written on the board. The entry is based on each day's mini lesson and a place for direct application of the lesson.

Brainstorming conference with a student. My help with this conference was done in purple pen. I was helping the students narrow down a free writing idea to a smaller seed idea.