Blog #8: "Assignment Content"

 As I read through the "Teaching Diverse Types of Notebook Entries", I found that the two entries that I would like my future students to use within my content area would be starting with “Little, nearby things'' and then asking “How Am I feeling?” and then “When was Another Time I Felt This Same Way?”. First as it pertains to starting with the “Little, nearby things”, I feel that this is an extremely important thing for students to be able to do. To start with simple things that are in their surroundings and allow them to come up with thoughts and ideas about them is a way for them to think more on their feet. By doing this, I feel like it is allowing your students to become more creative with their way of thinking and will assist in them thinking more outside of the box. The second entry,  “How Am I feeling?” and then “When was Another Time I Felt This Same Way?”, by teaching my students this type of notebook entry it will allow for your students to really look back on their life and be able to do that self-reflection that we as human beings need to have. This allows them to make those connections between time and certain life moments that can even possibly lead to personal breakthroughs for them. By using this method of a notebook entry it will be a great way to have a student really dig deep and look within themselves and allow them maybe to see just how far they have come along. 


Whenever I reached the "Intentional Strategies Versus Assignments", part of the chapter I found it intriguing, but yet true. Some educators are very grading and assignment-driven that they do not allow for real authentic, student writing growth to take place. Instead of forcing a child to write for an assignment, educators should encourage free writing and creativity to take place within the students’ notebooks. At the end of the day, we should want our students to walk away feeling proud of their work and have a sense of importance around what they have to write/say. We need to reassure them and let it be known that their voice matters. We need to create more writing opportunities where the goal is not necessarily for a grade, but by allowing our students a chance to become intentional with their writing even outside of the classroom.


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