Notebooks are Missing and I am Dancing

Two years ago I started using notebooks in my college Literacy methods classroom.  I purchase a composition notebook for each student at the start of the semester.  We start each day with a Writing Into the Day prompt that sets the stage for our learning that class session.  I check notebooks three times during the semester to assure students are writing but also to inform me as to questions and topics that need revisited or reviewed. I love watching this writing blossom for some students.  I have one that has the most beautiful calligraphy skills.  Her labels and thoughts are ornate and thoughtful and express her personality within the content.  I have others that write down the minimum but even that is thoughtful and demonstrates understanding. My students ask the best questions.  When I check notebooks I struggle with writing back to them or not.  I feel like it's their notebook but I also can't help but enter a conversation, especially when presented with one of those great questions.  I try to keep my writing to a minimum.  I struggle with even checking the notebooks for a point value and may revisit this for next year.  I'm mulling it over and I'll seek my students' feedback.

Today I traveled over to my classroom to check notebooks.  I have them in a black tub in the back of the classroom.  I checked them recently so there were only three entries to see but the classroom was empty and quiet and I had time to really look at them and not just do a spot check on a few pages.  I began to take stock and there were seven notebooks missing from the tub.  I did a happy dance right there in an empty classroom in our Educational Annex.  Seven notebooks were missing.  Seven notebooks have accompanied students on their elementary classroom practicum visits this week.  Seven notebooks are being utilized for additional note taking and the processing of thoughts.  I did not tell students I'd be checking notebooks and seven of them wanted to have them in their classrooms this week.  The notebooks are truly theirs and they are using them outside of what was required.  I will gladly check these notebooks next week!

This may seem small but I've been slowly implementing writing as both a tool and a form of expression in my literacy methods course for a while now.  This is the first time that I've seen a significant number of students "get it" this soon.  We haven't even talked about teaching writing yet in class.  That topic is coming.  Something is working.  Students are taking ownership of their writing and are using it for both form and function.  They are making it their own and are getting more comfortable knowing I'll be seeing their writing.  They're not just doing what I ask them to do as a matter of compliance and earning points.  And, I'm quite sure they didn't just unknowingly place their notebooks in their backpacks at the end of class last week.

I know a key ingredient of this change is me.  I'm more explicit about adding writing to my course in a variety of ways and I am better at weaving writing into our discussions about teaching reading.  I give more attention to integrating reading and writing as companion activities in the classroom.  I have room for growth but I am happy with what has changed in my teaching.  The other key ingredient is the students.  I have a strong amazing group of preservice teachers this semester.  They will be fantastic teachers.  They ask the right questions and they strive to grow.  They are open to trying things and sharing things. There are likely other factors involved in this change that I will need to discover and develop in the future.

For now, though, I'm celebrating some missing notebooks!