Teaching Tips

Writer’s Notebooks

There are many assessment tools I use in my classroom. One tool I use in all classes is a writer’s notebook, whether I am teaching English language arts, social studies, or science. Writer’s notebooks assess many different levels of students’ growth, including thinking and writing. It is a source from which students can find seeds for further work, whether research or developing a piece of writing. Writer’s notebooks provide informal assessments which are valuable for teachers in deciding on the next steps. The data in writer’s notebooks give formative assessments, which direct instructional decisions teachers make. They shed light on common errors and misconceptions. I also assess students regularly through their discussions with classmates and exit tickets for daily check-in.