Getting to Know Your Needs Consensogram - Please place a green dot on the chart above the statement that best matches you. I have implemented writer’s notebooks in my classroom, but I want to know more. I’m familiar with writer’s notebooks, but I haven’t implemented them in my classroom. I’m new to the idea of writer’s notebooks.

Keeping a Writer’s Notebook When I find something that inspires me, I write about it in my writer's notebook. I think of my writer's notebook as a true friend, a great listener, someone who will accept whatever I write (the good, the bad, the weird, and the tedious). My writer's notebook never judges me. It understands that becoming a writer takes a long time, and we might as well have a little fun along the way. Ralph Fletcher (2005) All takes place in the context of a writer’s workshop classroom. Julie Wiese julie_wiese@roundrockisd.org

Welcome! Introductions Goals What is a writer’s notebook? Writer’s Notebooks: A Valuable Tool to Create Lifelong Writers Explore some strategies for launching writer’s notebooks in your classroom

“The writer’s notebook nudges students to become more active learners “The writer’s notebook nudges students to become more active learners. It gives them a place to react to their world. To make that all-important personal connection. And the notebook provides a safe place- no grades, no one correcting their grammar.” School Talk, Writer’s Notebook: A Place to Dream, Wonder, and Explore, Ralph Fletcher What phrases or words stand out to you in the quote about writer’s notebooks?

What is a writer’s notebook? It is… A place to store your thoughts, feelings, observations, ideas, opinions, and more A place to record your reactions A collection of ideas “A writer’s notebook gives you a place to live like a writer, not just in school during writing time, but wherever you are, at any time of day.” Ralph Fletcher It is not… A diary Not a reading journal in which students write summaries, main ideas, or letters to characters per the teacher’s assignment At end of slide discuss the difference between a writer’s notebook and a journal. Show sample writing folder. From A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher

What does a writer’s notebook look like? It should reflect the writer’s personality Could be a small notepad, a journal, a sketch book, or a composition book At the beginning of the year, give your students the opportunity to personalize their notebooks “When you come right down to it, a writer’s notebook is nothing more than a blank book, but within those pages you’ve got a powerful tool for writing and living.” Ralph Fletcher Show samples

An excerpt from Ralph Fletcher’s Writer’s Notebook… “This morning I stopped to buy an iced coffee. When I got home I took out my writer's notebook, the most important tool I have. I think of my notebook as an "idea bank" or "seed farm" where I can collect ideas, or just write for fun. I opened my writer's notebook and jotted this down: I love an iced coffee, with milk and sugar, on a warm summer's morning. Light and sweet, that's what I tell the woman at the Dunkin' Donuts, and she knows what I mean. When I've got a cup of iced coffee in my hand, so cold beads of condensation are already gathering on the sides, and I'm getting double-jolted by the surge of caffeine plus the lift, provided by those sugar crystals crunching between my teeth, I know beyond doubt it's going to be a great summer day.” "Letters To Young Writers." Ralph Fletcher, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg (Sep. 2005) How did he use his notebook? What observations do you notice about his writing?

Strategies for Launghing the Use of Writer’s Notebooks More than one way to start a notebook. It is important that students make it their own, and do not use it to respond to prompts, use our strategies only, etc. At the beginning, you may model some strategies and have them try them out, but ultimately the writer’s notebook content is mainly in the hands of the individual writer. Try one- in handout Mind Pictures

Modeling and Strategies to Jump Start Writer’s Notebooks Teacher models writing in or shares her notebook- Model, model, model! Start the year off by getting students excited about their writer’s notebooks Writing off literature Gather feelings, dreams, insights, odd facts, artifacts (ticket stubs, photographs, newspaper clippings), lines from songs, snatches of overheard conversation. Collect favorite leads, ending, verbs, poems, etc. What amazes/surprises/angers you What you wonder about What you notice Small details that intrigue you Memories Lists Lots of sharing time!- Share, share, share!

Independent Writing by M. Colleen Cruz Ways to show good models to your students if you don’t keep your own notebook… Borrow a notebook from a student in another class who is willing to let you photocopy select pages to share with your class Find an example from a published writer the students are familiar with Create a dummy notebook (Make sure to include all components you want your students to have in their ideal notebook!) Pass out samples to teachers and allow them to look over notebooks (grade 5 samples) Independent Writing by M. Colleen Cruz

Professional Resources Notebook Know How: Strategies for the Writer’s Notebook by A. Buckner A Writer’s Notebook by R. Fletcher Lessons for the Writer’s Notebook by R. Fletcher and J. Portalupi Guiding Readers and Writers by I. Fountas and G. Pinnell Children’s Books A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher Amelia’s Notebook by M. Moss (lots of great books in this series) The Pain and the Great One by J. Blume The Keeping Quilt by P. Polacco Poetry! In handout

Questions?