Student Friendly Reader's Notebook

Last year my district purchased a new reading series, Wonders by McGraw Hill, and it was definitely an adjustment year!  We are very fortunate though that we can use this as a resource to best fit our students' needs.  My principal is extremely supportive when it comes to curriculum.  I have used different types of reading notebooks for students in the past, but after planning with my team for next year I have some different ideas on how I want to organize a Reader's Notebook that will work best for my students and myself.

I am not good at keeping up with interactive notebooks.  Each time I try to use these, it just does not work very well for me personally.  I like and use some elements of these from time to time, but I know that it is not a good fit for my classroom.  Everyone is different!

I decided to really think about what I want my students to be doing and how it would best benefit them to have their materials organized.  I decided that there are three main things I want to organize for my students and myself!

The Reader's Notebook I plan to use has three tabs.  It is just a regular spiral notebook divided into three sections.  I use a Daily Five model for my reading group instruction.  I want to have a place where my students can use think marks, stop and jot, and write down any vocabulary words they are struggling with when they read independently.  In the past they have used post its, but it is much easier to have all this in one place!  I decided to make one section of the reading notebook that is just "Read to Self."  There is also a spot underneath the tab in this section for a student to write their personal reading goal on a post it.  This way it can be changed out frequently.  I plan to use Daily CAFE reading goals.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-4642264

The second tab is titled "Read with the Teacher."  I have worksheets and practice to go with the reading series that I use, but sometimes the students in my group need paper or post its to stop and job, use think marks, etc.. All of these notes now will be in one spot. This section of the notebook will also have space for the students to record the reading skill and strategy for the unit.

 

The third tab is titled "Grammar Practice."  My team uses the Shurley Method, and this involves learning the parts of speech through songs and repetitive practice of call and response diagramming sentences.  I am SO TIRED of finding their Shurley papers everywhere, so I plan on putting everything they need in this section of the notebook for easy reference.  My students can also write quick practices on these pages and have the ability to go back and review as needed.
 

I also plan to put some think marks in the notebook.  We use Miss West Best's close reading think marks.

Finally in the back cover, I have a place where students can keep track of the books they have read for the year and their genre.  This will help me when it comes to one on one conferences, and it will help the students keep track and be proud of what they have read.

 

You can find my easy to use Reader's Notebook here!