Conferring Notebook Set Up
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When I was a literacy coach, I introduced conferring notebook parties to the teachers in my school. These parties happened before the school year started and provided time for the staff to get together to assemble their conferring notebooks. As the literacy coach, I copied all the pages that went into the conferring notebooks: individual conferring pages, small-group conferring pages, CAFE Menus, check-in sheets, calendars, divider pages, and reading-level forms (see link below).
I placed these forms in stacks around the room so that when teachers arrived, no time would be wasted. They would either bring a three-ring binder or grab one provided, and fill them with the forms and tools to start the year. Then we would help ourselves to some refreshments and take time to write student names on each form as we caught up on summer activities and our hopes for the new school year. This “party” was a great way to collaborate with colleagues while preparing for the year ahead. These parties are a great idea for those using paper-and-pencil conferring notebooks.
If you use the online conferring notebook, setting it up takes only about five minutes. You simply go to ConferringNotebook.com, sign in, and add student names. Although the brevity of this activity may change the style of the party, the setup can still be done. Those using an electronic version may wish to provide a block of time in the computer lab when teachers can come, set up their notebook, and have a snack while visiting about summer and the year ahead.
