Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hello and Welcome to our Blog! We will be using this blog to engage in conversations about our pre-institute reading of Regie Routman's Teaching Essentials. As you read each chapter, please post your thoughts and reflections here. Thanks! Becky and Christy
I basically wrote a book about the Katie Wood Ray article so I'm kinda all written out. My whole writing being is sagging with exhaustion, so forgive me when I just make a list for the things I will reflect on in this article for tomorrow.
ReplyDelete1. Can PowerSchool be a form of record keeping? I think yes, especially since you can add comments to describe assignments or the student’s performance on the assignment. It’s instantly assessable to parents and therefore an untapped resource, in my opinion.
2. I tried anecdotal records. I’m just not that organized. Plus it’s hard for 70+ students. When my goal was to be Nancy Atwell, I tried to do this. Now I just ask students to bring clipboards to our writing conferences and take notes as we talk. All notes and drafts must be turned in with the student’s rubric (self-checked with reflection) and final draft—this is my method of keeping up what I discussed with each student and how that student responded (in his/her writing) to our discussion.
3. I WISH that one day administrators and state departments and congress would realize that if you want to know the rigor and effectiveness of a curriculum/teacher, walk into that classroom and ask to see assignments, rubrics, and student work. Talk to the students. Ask to see the type of records listed in this article the first two pages. Ask to see anything other than test scores. Then talk to me about merit pay.
Record Keeping...ahh, a special educator's "favorite words". Record keeping, for me, is really a personal product- not a "one size fits all" item. It needs to work for YOU and your students- but mainly YOU! I've had to "try on" different types of record keeping before I found one that "felt right".
ReplyDeleteI like that there has been more attention on data and really using the data to guide instruction...
I think it is so important to include students in the record keeping- make it theirs!- set their goals and let them see first hand how they are working toward reaching those goals. Powerful stuff!!
As a Kindergarten teacher I am blessed to have an asst. I keep a large spiral notebook. I mark 15 pages for each student. I have blue tabs for boys and pink for girls. My asst is good at kidwatching as I am having conversation with all or few or just one student. Keep body behaviors as well. Also during recess and center time I sit back and write the whole time.
ReplyDeleteLove to look back at kid's growth and have documentation for meetings and conferences.
I like the shared responsibility for record keeping as well. It is natural for them to feel that they are active participants and clearly they will also feel ownership, which seems to be another buzz word this week. O'Keefe mentions that much of the information is subjective, and partly speculation, and yet since the kidwatching notes do not stand in isolation, they can help create a picture, and he says they bring with them the previous interactions. I know that these notes can be very helpful when meeting with a parent. They can take me back to specific times when a certain behavior or milestone took place. I feel that I have concrete things to discuss and it helps me to feel more together and observant. Obviously this has to be adjusted depending on the number of students we are dealing with. However, even a few notes can really be helpful in determining effective lessons and strategies.
ReplyDeleteOh, record keeping...my favorite part of teaching. It must be, because I know I do a lot of it. Next year will mark my 28th year of teaching, and I have tried keeping records in many ways. My advice is keep it simple. It is ok, to just write Kidwatching notes on notebook paper, and put them in a binder. What is important here is to make sure to do it. It is so easy to get sidetracked after kidwatching and never organize the notes into a binder for later use. If you take the time to Kidwatch, make sure to have the notes handy to use during conferences with students and parents. Parents love to see or hear about the wonderful things their child did during a school day. The idea about writing 1 sentence a day about each child was a great idea from the article. I plan to to that this year.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSarah - I love the idea of using PowerSchool! We already have to do it, and those of you that know me know that I like things in an electronic format. I've tried the clipboards, the notecard folder, plain old folders - I just don't like to physically have to carry records around! (Somehow I keep putting things down and I can't find them...) I'm with you on figuring out how to use PowerSchool to get my records and observations organized.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with the rest of you that love having the kids assume part of the responsibility for this record keeping! I never considered having the kids keep a file in MY file cabinet with their information! This makes so much sense - if they have the responsibility of creating the goals, tracking their progress, and reflecting on everything, it will truly be theirs! Now the big question that keeps floating in my mind is "What exactly does this look like? What do I need to buy? Exactly how many pocket folders do I need?"
Agree. Agree. Having notes for parent conferences based on observations is the best for the reasons stated by others. I like the idea of trying to write something daily about each child. Maybe half the class one day, the other half the next. Exceptions would be noticing something important about a student even though it wasn't "their day." I have students accountable for some records, but this article gave me more ideas for record keeping on their end! Also, I like when the author said, "I do not need to be correct all of the time to get a pretty good idea of what is going on and to make recommendations and plan effective strategy lessons." Whew! It doesn't have to be perfect! I like how ideas are presented as just that ...ideas. No one is telling us it must be done in a certain way because the same shoe doesn't fit everyone.
ReplyDeleteWow, the things that struck you all from this article are what struck me as well--especially the importance of making record keeping your own and putting some of the responsibility on the students. After reading Regie, I have done a lot of thinking about how to make my students stronger self-assessers, and this quote made me realize that students shouldering some of the responsibility of record keeping can do just that: "Students' record keeping assures that they are active participants in the assessment of their learning." I've already got some ideas about how students can take a part in documenting their accomplishments and goals, but I think one of the most difficult things about record-keeping (as Dianne and Jennifer have both alluded to) is deciding how to organize all of the data so that it is easily accessible. I just finished my first year of teaching, so I'm still building ideas about what works for me and what doesn't. I'm looking forward to trying new things next year, and I appreciate the fact that record-keeping systems can be different in every classroom. Though I know I have to make it my own, what has worked really well for some of you over the years?
ReplyDeleteAs I get oldER:), I think I am going to remember all of the things my students say, do, act on, share, read, and write. Unfortunately, I forget so quickly. With all that is going on around me, it is vital for me to keep records of daily experiences and observations. I grab a sticky note and put with the notes and thoughts in a child's individual folder, but my organizational self is craving more order in this department and like we read "a sentence every day for every child"-I liked that too Dianne!. This article inspired me to make my kidwatching much more deliberate.
ReplyDeleteI have also tried MANY different approaches to record keeping. In fact, each year, I try something new. I used to have several different notebooks in which I would jot down anecdotal notes about students during different parts of the day- centers, independent reading, reading conferences, writing workshop, and on and on and on. I had way too many notebooks to keep up with! This approach was too cumbersome and confusing. I have tried keeping sticky notes with me and jotting down notes/comments on these notes and then putting them in a notebook which had a section for each student. I need to think more about what information I need to gather from students that will help me plan instruction and information that will be beneficial to share with parents. I haven't decided exactly what the best approach is.
ReplyDeleteAs far as having kids share the responsibility, does anyone have any ideas on how that would look with kindergartners?
I have also tried many ways to keep up with my notes. What I have started this school year was writing on mailing labels and putting them in a notebook at the end of the week. Using the labels I could see who I have read with, who I have been watching and who I needed to get to still. I also send progress reports home so the labels where very helpful in completing them. I'm not sure if this is what is best but it really worked for me this year! But I have to agree with Amee when she said it is great to look back over the notes throughout the whole year and see how much the students have grown! It brings tears to my eyes!
ReplyDeleteI must say that this is an area that I am very guilty of not doing due to stress of "getting it all in". I have been frustrated about not knowing more about each child and being able to always vocalize it to others when necessary. So, like you all, I too appreciated that I don't have to do it all myself. I am excited to know that I am able to put some of the responsibility on the students, but also I need to develop a system that works for my style and organizational system. This year I will be self contained, so I will be able to make this a more intentional part of my teaching each day and I am vowing to myself (in hopes my colleagues at CES will hold me accountable) that I WILL have adequate kidwatching notes and other records on every student in my room.
ReplyDeleteJennifer and Allison, I don't have the kids use a file in "my file cabinet", but I did by one of those plastic rolling filing cabinets with one large drawer for hanging files in the bottom and have used that for keeping track of students' writing portfolios. This is strictly where they have stored finished writing pieces, but I now plan to include some other things as well.
Also, an idea for all of your who feel overwhelmed about the general statements you would write about each child every day. I remember once hearing of a teacher who used the white mailing labels for kidwatching. She had each child's name pre-printed on the labels and then proceeded to write notes about the child during conferences/kidwatching. Then, she removed the label from the sheet and stuck it on that child's page in a spiral notebook she had tabbed for each child. I may try that this year.
I like the idea of the children having an active roll in their record keeping.I have used a note book with the child's name on a tab. Each child has a section and I write notes on labels that I keep on a clip board. At the end of the day/week (whatever works for you) I pull off the labels and stick them on the page behind each child's tab. I write each child's name on a label so at a glance I can see who I need to focus on that day or during a specific time. I did notice last year that I had more notes on the children who struggled than the average/above average children. I like this way, but not sure if it will work as well next year. I do think it is very helpful to have lots of notes when meeting with parents and other teachers about children. Documentation is key.
ReplyDeleteMy record keeping is developing but I find it challenging to keep up with and would love to have it run smoother. I like some of the suggestions mentioned in this article to make observation and data collection more effective. I especially liked the idea of including students in their own record keeping and having them file their work. I would love for others to share ideas about kid-watching and organizational skills that have worked for them. I enjoyed learning about Miscue Analysis today and thought it provided meaningful information about what the students were doing correctly and where they needed help.
ReplyDeleteRecord keeping is evil to me. I know that it is vital, but I stink at it. Organization is not my best quality. Each year I work at it, and I can say that I'm getting better. It is important to use when conferring with parents and showing progress. I agree with some of you that believe that by having students partly responsible is a great idea. I think that this will keep them responsible for their own learning. There are so many ways to keep records. I think that a teacher needs to do what works for her/him.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Tim O'Keefe's article. I seem to get so bogged down in student work that it overwhelms me. I like how O'Keefe says to pick fewer samples and go deeper. I appreciate how he includes Carolyn Burke's definition of kidwatching as simply "learning to see what's there." I am most at ease with the word "learning" being in the definition, and O'Keefe agrees by saying "record keeping is a constantly evolving process." It's also reaffirming to hear how our comments are more meaningful evaluations than scores and letter grades. Regie's words of simplicity and common sense are ringing in my ears as I also read "A blank sheet of paper and a pen may be our greatest tools for recording what we come to know." The echoes of learning appear again with the statement "coming to know."
ReplyDeleteWell, given that I am such an organized teacher wannabe, I envy those who are able to maintain anecdotal notes and records on each child. I have to be honest, my best records are the artifacts that the children have created. These artifacts include their daily authentic writing workshop notebooks, photos, notes that I have scribed about their reading, notes they take about their reading (which are a hoot!) and their creations. I keep all of these artifacts as well as their own refocusing notes in a huge folder….each child has a folder. Periodically, I peek through the folders. I share the folders with parents during conferences, during SAT and IEP meetings. At the end of the year, the folders go home with the children.
ReplyDeleteI would like to develop and maintain more checklist type records as those are easy to eyeball quickly. I would also like to be able to maintain a teacher notebook wherein I can easily reference notes for each content area for each child.
I just think that I was born organizationally challenged. My oldest son possesses the same weakness!
I agree with what most people have said on this topic- kidwatching and its vital importance. I liked the LONG list of ways teachers can use to record tehir observations. It is a reminder that there are several ways to do it and that you have to find your own personal system. I liked the emphasis on the students also being a part of the record keeping process and would like to try more of the student helping with the record keeping. I LOVE the sample of record keeping stduent ideas.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I sometimes find it hard to take the amount of kidwatching notations I feel is adquate due to the time fact but look forward to exploring ways to better improve this time managament issue. I think the important thing or quote to remember was ," Kidwatching is not for the faint of heart. It requires commitment, risk taking and valuing the good in each child. However Kidwatching has its own reward."
My record-keeping this past year was to use a notebook with a tab for every child. I kept their MAP scores and their math goals in this notebook. I think I am the type who does best with only one notebook so I don't lay things down and lose them. I generally design a clip art covered title sheet on the front and the back as well ast the spine of those transparent 3 ring binders to organize my stuff. I really like the mailing label idea with the students' names preprinted on the label. That would also help me see if I am spending too much time with one student and not enough with another.
ReplyDeleteI also have may students keep folders with their work samples. They are given a rubric of the items that should be included in their scientist's notebook. I think with language arts I would like to do something similar with a reader's notebook and a writer's notebook. This would include a reading log liketitle, date, author, rating of difficulty of text and maybe the reading strategies they used. I also like the idea of students recording the titles of their pieces of reading and writing organized by genre, since genre studies are such a big part of the fifth grade curriculum.
I have tried the portfolio idea, but I never really got to the reflective part of the portfolios. Maybe if I structure my classroom routines efficiently enough, I will have individually conferenced with each of my students at least once a nine weeks (is that reasonable to expect?) so that I have their comments and selections for a portfolio as it is supposed to happen.
This past year during parent/teacher conferences Jan Joy and I would always conference together with our parents. She had a great system set up with her binder and individual tabs for each student. She included their individual spelling lists from words their way and she could tell parents which phonemes a student was comfortable with and what they should work on with them at home. She also used the information form the dominie text level a student was on to inform parents of skills that their son or daughter was strong in and what they needed to work on. I would like to copy her system because it sure worked great during parent conferences. There is so much to do it is scary!
Record Keeping....I WILL master the art of it before I retire...and since I still have a lot of years left...it is an attainable goal. Every year I start out great. I have a notebook and tabs and make a section for every child. I have tried mailing labels, sticky notes, index cards. I can come up with the system I just can't seem to do it consistantly so that it is meaningful. Here is my analogy...I start off with this perfect snowball every year. I swear I am going to keep this snowball nice and round and managable...but as the year rolls along more and more is added to that snowball and it becomes unmanagable and before I know it, out of control. This year, with forty students it was an avalanche.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having students take some of the responsibility. My goal is to try and do a record keeping scrapbook of sorts. I have a book that has ideas on how to do this and I could have the children do the organizing and filing. Third grade teachers, I love the portfolio sharing day, so my vision is to have a record keeping scrapbook portfolio.