Reading Professional Notebook

A part of our grade in RED 3012 is based on our creating a Reading Professional Notebook. Today, I made sure that I had at least most of everything I'd need in my notebook. Monday, September 22nd, is when our instructor will check my notebook and several other students' to make sure that we have all of the required parts, and to make sure that they are at a professional level.

The notebook is divided into several sections, each of which must be clearly tabbed for easy access. First, we place a table of contents which notes what's inside. Next comes a complete syllabus for the course. After this we have a print-out of Florida's Reading Endorsement Competencies, followed by the Florida Reading and Language Arts Standards for the a specific grade level. I chose 3rd grade.

The second part of the notebook consists of a more involved set of documents, exercises and reflections that we don't simply print, but actually create. The first of these is our Strategic Reading Log. Within this log we place information about ourselves as readers. First, we tell about our own personal goals as a reader. Second, we tell about books we've read, books we've read with others, and books that have been read to us. This is an excellent reading journal format because kids can include books read by the teacher in class and books read within a small group. So, no matter a kid's reading level, they can still feel as if they are a reader by including numerous titles in their log.

Next in the Strategic Reading Log is a section for the strategies that we've learned. After this is our word collection. For this, we write a word we don't know or aren't sure of, and then we give its definition, etymology, and draw a picture. Rather than simply using clip-art or other ready-made images, Professor Williams stresses that it's important to have the students to be as involved in the process as possible. If they are simply pasting pictures they found, this is not as meaningful as if they create the picture on their own. Last in our SRL are our Tickets Out. Before we leave each class, we are to draw a picture of a ticket. Inside, we are to write something that we learned in class. This helps us remember what we've just discussed, and provides a record to review later.

The next section of our notebook is devoted to containifacts. Reflections, quizzes, assignments, and our own lesson plans are all tobe included in this section.

Finally, we have a place just for course handouts. Many people don't quite grasp the importance of course handouts. But if your professor takes the time to put it together, and uses their limited allotment for the number of copies that can make, and they give one to you and every other student in your class...

I spent hours setting it up as perfectly as I could. I certainly hope it was worth the time and effort. It's times like this that I most appreciate the word of Dr. Ezzell: "[Comfort yourself in what you've learned, rather than the grade you get.]"