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Did you - or your children - have "notebook checks" in middle or high school?
A "notebook check" basically takes the form of the teacher periodically collecting the student's notebooks (to see if they have made a sufficient, legible entry of notes for each class day) and/or folders (to see if they are neat and in order). These are usually graded and can account for a significant percentage of the student's grade.
They are supposed to reinforce organizational skills.
Also, what is your opinion on them?
In 7th and 8th grade, almost all classes had notebook checks, and my grades suffered as a result, as I am naturally disorganized. In 9th grade, only 1 or 2 did; and then in 10th grade, about four did.
Interestingly, this kid who did SO bad on notebook checks and whose GPA suffered as a result scored well on the ACT and went on to college where he graduated with a summa *** laude despite his father dying in the first semester and a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor in the seventh.
Did you - or your children - have "notebook checks" in middle or high school?
A "notebook check" basically takes the form of the teacher periodically collecting the student's notebooks (to see if they have made a sufficient, legible entry of notes for each class day) and/or folders (to see if they are neat and in order). These are usually graded and can account for a significant percentage of the student's grade.
They are supposed to reinforce organizational skills.
Also, what is your opinion on them?
In 7th and 8th grade, almost all classes had notebook checks, and my grades suffered as a result, as I am naturally disorganized. In 9th grade, only 1 or 2 did; and then in 10th grade, about four did.
Interestingly, this kid who did SO bad on notebook checks and whose GPA suffered as a result scored well on the ACT and went on to college where he graduated with a summa *** laude despite his father dying in the first semester and a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor in the seventh.
My kids have had them and I have used them. They aren't enough of the grade to make a huge differnce though. If a student is doing well but doesn't have their notebook in order it's not even going to make a half grade difference.
I did it when I taught high school science and do it for my college bio majors lab, since an important part of doing science is keeping accurate notes on lab work. It's not a super huge part of the grade; however, last year I did the stats and found a significant correlation between thoroughness of the notebook and overall performance in the course. (not to imply a causal relationship of course)
I do not know if my high schooler has notebook checks, but younger kids do. I cannot recall what the policy was when I was a student, because I'm just too darned old.
We had notebook checks in elementary and middle school.
In elementary school, the teacher would give prizes or opportunities for prizes if your parents had signed your notebook saying that they looked over your work.
In middle school, the homeroom teacher would check for signatures...those who had a whole week signed would get their 3 hallway passes. If you didn't get a whole week of signatures then you weren't allowed to leave the classroom except during passing periods.
We had notebook checks in elementary and middle school.
In elementary school, the teacher would give prizes or opportunities for prizes if your parents had signed your notebook saying that they looked over your work.
In middle school, the homeroom teacher would check for signatures...those who had a whole week signed would get their 3 hallway passes. If you didn't get a whole week of signatures then you weren't allowed to leave the classroom except during passing periods.
My parents wouldn't have been available to sign notebooks. That's why I disagree with grading children for their parents' actions.
I do notebook checks about two times a month. Like a previous poster, the point value is low enough to not cause too much damage.
In high school, my own children had a math teacher who would have "notebook test" instead of notebook checks. He would hand out a test, but instead of math problems to work out, it would have something like this:
1. notebook page 8, problem number 6.
2. notebook page 17, problem number 4.
As long as the student had done their homework and kept it in the notebook, he/she would be fairly safe. Those who never did homework had problems.
These test were random, unannounced and counted the same point value as and announced test.
He rarely gave two classes a test in the same day.
Certainly, gave students an incentive to do their homework.
in high school in only ever had notebook checks in 9th grade civics class. i think once a week we'd turn them in on fridays and get them back on mondays.
middle school i can't recall and i'm more than confident that we did NOT have them in elem school.
My parents wouldn't have been available to sign notebooks. That's why I disagree with grading children for their parents' actions.
I disagree with it too to some extent... which is why mine was often signed by me I would show my parents and either they would forget or didn't have time in the morning/evening.
I don't do them, but the other algebra teacher does. It's basically free points (it raises the grades of 90% of students). It's not a big enough grade to make a difference in the scheme of things. Might bring you up or down 5% over the course of the whole year.
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I would show my parents and either they would forget or didn't have time in the morning/evening.
