This document discusses launching and sustaining reading and writing notebooks in the classroom. It explains that notebooks provide a place for students to capture their thinking about reading and writing, and experiment with writing. Notebooks can be organized in less, somewhat, or very structured formats, depending on the teacher's goals. Examples are provided of notebooks with informal sections or formal sections for quick writes, lessons, and vocabulary. Notebooks help students reflect on their reading lives and growth over time. Sticking with notebooks is important for teachers to see their power in supporting students.

1. Launching and Sustaining Reading
and Writing Notebooks
Presented By
Heather Corral
Mindi Rench
Northbrook Junior High, Northbrook, IL
Tuesday, April 3, 12

2. Why a notebook?
• Notebooks offer a place for students to
capture their thinking. A place to call
their own.
• In writing, notebooks provide a place to
experiment and take risks.
• In reading, notebooks serve as a
collection spot for a student’s thinking
about his/her reading.
Tuesday, April 3, 12

3. Whose Notebook?
• Writer’s Notebooks will look different
depending on your purpose:
• Ralph Fletcher Style
• Aimee Buckner Style
• Your Style
Tuesday, April 3, 12

4. • Less Structured:
• No formal sections
• Dependent on student
preferences
• “junk drawer”
• quick writes
• student’s observations
• writing territories
Writer’s Notebook: Organization and
Layout - Three Possibilities
Tuesday, April 3, 12

5. Writer’s Notebook: Organization and
Layout - Three Possibilities
• Somewhat Structured:
• Formal sections
• Numbered Pages
• quick writes
• minilessons
• grammar notes
• craft lessons
Tuesday, April 3, 12

6. Writer’s Notebook: Organization and
Layout - Three Possibilities
• Very Structured:
• Formal sections
• Numbered Pages
• Quick writes
• Minilessons
• genre study notes/
craft lessons
• grammar and
mechanics notes
• Vocabulary study
• Conference notes
Tuesday, April 3, 12

7. Heather’s Somewhat Structured Notebook:
★No page numbers
★Vocabulary study
★Genre study writing interspersed with craft
lessons
★Writing Territories
Tuesday, April 3, 12

8. Mindi’s Very Structured Notebooks:
★Students use a standard composition
notebook
★Conference notes/goal setting: 20pg
★Lesson notes: 60 pg
★Grammar notes: 40 pg
★Notebook work: 80 pg
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9. Two views:
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10. • Books Read List
• Someday Books List
• Genre Chart
• Reading Response
Reader’s Notebook Structure
Tuesday, April 3, 12

11. A Reader’s Notebook...
• Captures a reading life
• Provides a place for
reflection and response
• Encourages students to be
“personal, individual, and
real as they take notice of
themselves and their
world.” (Rief, 2007)
• Allows students to see
growth
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12. Don’t Give Up!
Once you see the power of the notebook, you
will place a priority on making it work!
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13. Contact Us:
Heather Corral
hcorral@northbrook28.net
on Twitter: @heathercorral
Mindi Rench
mrench@northbrook28.net
on Twitter: @mindi_r
on Goodreads
Tuesday, April 3, 12