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| My Pensieves from years past... |
As much as I love the concept and was thrilled to hear the Gail and Joan talk about the Pensieve, it hasn't worked for me. There are plenty of people who use it faithfully and are able to plan their instruction around notes they've taken in their Pensieve. I want to be one of those people. I just need to find my medium.
This year, my plan is to use a combo approach. I'll be using my iPad to record conferences and type notes on Evernote. I'll be using the Confer app to help me put together my strategy or guided reading groups. And I'll probably carry a notebook at times, too.
I love the fact that I can access Evernote from just about anywhere... my phone, my iPad, my work computer, my home computer... If I forget to bring home my notebook, I'm still able to access information that I need.
I know there is a large group of people who already are or who are planning to use Evernote much in the same way. There is also the news of The Sisters coming out with their own app to help with note-taking. Can't wait to catch a glimpse of that!
I'd love to hear how others are recording notes as they confer with readers!
~Komos :)
I had considered using Evernote too. Since I'm teaching 80 sixth graders though, I worried I'd run out of room on the free version. I just don't have the money to upgrade right now. So I did the next best thing - I made a Google Doc form - I can input the info, hit submit, and Google puts it into a spreadsheet. I can manipulate it however I want later - Google will even analyze parts of it so I can see the info graphically. So far, it has been awesome! I can't wait to document things this year (this has always been my weak spot in the past!) Here's the blog post I wrote about my Google Forms:
ReplyDeletehttp://mrsbtechnoteach.blogspot.com/2011/08/record-keeping-using-google-forms.html
Laura,
ReplyDeleteThis will be my first year and I was excited about the Pensieve idea too. So I went out and got some colorful binders and tabs for each child. But like you I don't think it's me (and I haven't even started). I think I'm more of a techie so I thought I'd rather do something on the computer.
I guess I'm not techie enough to do what Beth did. Her google Doc looks great - just not great with google docs yet either.
So here's my plan....I'll start this year with the Pensieve notebook and see how it goes - perhaps while in the actual process I'll find my own way to something techie.
Will keep watching to see how you make out!
Thanks for sharing!
Beth, I love the idea of a Google doc working like a spreadsheet. I'm not very familiar with Gdocs but am hoping to explore more soon! That is why I like the Confer app, though. I can input info (reading level, teaching point, tags) and it sorts it for me with the touch of an icon! I'm excited to see/hear how Gdocs works for you.
ReplyDeleteNancy, Yes... it's a great idea to give the Pensieve a whirl! You might actually like it and can use tech as back-up! I'd love to hear if you find another techie way to keep track of things.
Thanks for keeping the conversation going!
~Laura
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear more about how you're using your Confer App and Evernote. I have struggled with the binder concept of the pensieve. I use a similar layout but in a spiral bound book....that way the bulk of an open binder isn't there. It still doesn't feel right though. Would love to look into the tech avenue.
Good luck with your new tech pensive.
Just found your site! I love the idea of a blog devoted to Daily 5. I'm pretty obsessed with it too! Come check out my blog. :)
ReplyDelete+Teaching Happily Ever After
~Creative Teaching with a Technology Twist~
I guess I'm old school but my notes are still written in a notebook. (I don' t own an Ipad and have very limited archaic technology in my room) . Each child has their own notebook and they are kept in their just right book boxes. The parents who come into my classroom for community read (or when ever they are in my room) have full access to these books so they know what goals their children are working on. As for daily five and scheduling conferences to re meet that doesn't work for me as things are changing all the time. The thought of letting down a little person isn't something I want to do. This year I'm going to try to keep my own notes as to who I need to revisit with so that when the time is there, the revisit can occur. Last year the more "needy" students received more of my time in 1 on 1 conferences. Not sure if that helps at all but I thought I'd share what I'm hoping to do this year.
ReplyDeleteFirst day with children for me is Tuesday - only for 45 min though ( it's just a formality to count them). The first full day is Wednesday, but even then throughout the day 60+ plus grade one students will be going through my room (we have three grade one classes and we each see a third of the kids for a third of the day). I won't know who will actually be in my room until later in the week, or possibly the beginning of the following week. All I know is that on just a few short days my life will go from calm, to crazy. :-) Thanks for writing your blog. I am enjoying reading it. Karen
I, too, am trying to figure out what to do with the notebook. I have two beautiful ones set up, one for my morning class and one for my afternoon class, but I'm still not sure about them.
ReplyDeleteI've actually thought about using Evernote but am also worried about running out of room. I would love to hear a little more about how Beth set up her Google doc so I plan on checking that out as soon as I'm done here.
The most beautiful part of all of this is that it's OK that the pensieve doesn't necessarily work for us. I look forward to trying out some of these different suggestions and hearing about what is working for others.
:)
I nominated you as one of my Top Ten Blogs!! Go here to check out my post-
ReplyDeleteThinking of Teaching
And then go here to get your award button.
Top Ten Blogger Award
Thanks for all the wonderful blogging and idea sharing. I love visiting your blog every chance I get!
Beth
I love your blog Laura! I'm also excited to use Evernote with my ipad for note taking and record keeping. I really like the Note Taker HD app for writing notes or annotations which I can then email into Evernote. I'm using Dropbox to house pdf files of fillable forms and assessment documents for easy access. I'm anxious to get started. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just got an iPad and have Evernote, but am now curious about the conference app. Would love to know more.
ReplyDeleteI've chosen you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Stop by my blog to check it out!
ReplyDeletehttp://thesilverlininginteaching.blogspot.com/
I love the diversity of ideas that everyone is sharing! The Confer app is what I'll be using to record benchmark info and to sort my readers into groups. Evernote will be my day-to-day recording place. Although, I picked up a notebook when I met with two students the other day... :) Ah... only time will tell!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog!
Thank you! I teach in a really unique place, with really interesting and challenging students.I teach on a Hutterite Colony, and if you have seen the National Geographic show, it is nothing like that. Grade 1-9(they do not attend Kindergarten),when they enter school they speak no English. They are not allowed; TV,radio,movies,ipods,CD's, compters,and I have no access to the internet at school. My school staff onsite consists of me. Offsite the district has teaching coaches that will come in if I request. And this year I am allowed to participate in the district PD days. I picked the Daily 5. I have 12 kids, the same 12 kids I had last year. I am really excited by the Daily 5 but I wonder about how I could fit the listening to reading part in. For them listening to fluent reading is so important, but at most I feel like listening to me reading aloud is the most I can do. Any ideas?