Friday, May 11, 2012

Running records: A Great Idea!

So, I thought it would be fun to share a brilliant idea from this year. And while I started out doing really good on this, I let it slip as the year went on.  However, I plan on implementing it ALL next year! This worked wonderfully when I did use it and wanted to share it with you all. All you need are:
Address labels (this size works great), a clipboard, pen, and index cards.
Stick the labels on a clip board like this. And while you're walking around observing students, make notes. Write ANYTHING! Ex: Ashley is struggling with letter sounds. Continue to reinforce letters: H, M, and Y/Grant is reading well. May want to bump him up a level. Continue to reinforce tracking print. Try a different pointer?! 

You get the picture - right!? 
Anyways...at the end of the day....or end of the week, match the labels to student cards (I use the LARGE index cards) and stick your notes on there. The label method works so well and keeps me from rummaging through 20+ cards to make notes on every child in my class. As you can see, I mix mine. Sometimes I write on the cards, other times I use the labels. It's just a fast and easy way for you to keep running records on your students. AND - BONUS! Are you ready? Come Parent/Teacher conference time...all you have to do is pull out the notecards and share your observations. Viola! Just a note: I typically use 4 cards for our 4 nine weeks. I stick the labels on the front AND back. 

Thoughts? What was your brilliant idea for the year? I'd love to hear! Do you have a grand idea for keeping notes on your students?!

16 comments:

Becky said...

Great idea!! I might just have to do that next year as well!!

Rorey Risdon said...

This is such an ahhh-haaa moment for me. It goes under the category of "why didn't I think of that!" Thank you so much for sharing. I think this is going to revolutionize the way I take progress notes in every subject.

Miss Rorey's Room

Kerri Buckner said...

Love this idea! thanks for sharing. That would be so much more helpful than my notes I make that end up on a bunch of different papers and then I can't find them.

Jena Snowden said...

What a brilliant idea!!! Thanks for sharing. :)

Jena
1st Grade with Miss Snowden

Teresa said...

When i read the term running records I was expecting something on guided reading as that is where the term is often used- still a great idea. Thanks!

hendkin said...

This is an awesome idea, I will like to try this next year! This will work great in the category of record keeping...CAST!!

Chrissy said...

This is such a brilliant idea; I am a bit sorry that the year is almost over!

SCTiger said...

what a great idea! I will be sharing this one!
Thanks!

Sandi
Literacy Minute

martha brown said...

I do this! It is great for using up sheets of labels that you've printed and only used a few on the page. Ask your office working friends to save them for you!

Erica said...

WOdnerful idea! I am always looking for better ways to do informal assessments.

By the way... I love my goodies you sent from the give away!

Erica

Miss Kindergarten said...

BRILLIANT!!!!

Beth said...

I use a similar method with post it notes but this would keep everything much neater AND eliminate the problem of when post it notes stop sticking! Thanks so much!!
Beth
Thinking of Teaching

Cindy Foreman said...

Great idea!!! Just found and started following your blog! I am super excited to be returning to teaching kindergarten after 2 years of teaching 4th grade and I am super excited that I found your blog!
Cindy
http://krazykinderteacher.blogspot.com/

Rachelle said...

Seriously genius!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!! No more lost sticky notes for me!!!!

The Allen's said...

I love this idea, I keep a file folder for each student with samples of their work and personal notes or documents from parents, meetings, etc. it would be so easy to just stick these labels right inside the file folder at the end of the week! Love this, especially for discipline management! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

I love this idea...as an intervention specialist and inclusion teacher I am always looking for good ideas for taking notes on my students! Thanks...can't wait to use this idea this up coming school year!