Do you use data notebooks?

When I was a new teacher, I use to frown {okay so I may have rolled my eyes} every time I would hear an "older" teacher talk about how things never change in education and that every new idea was just "reinventing the wheel." It always made me feel like my opinions were not valued or that I didn't have anything to contribute because I was the new kid on the block. So as I went on in my teaching career, I was careful as a mentor to not squash any ideas and keep my mind open.

So picture this...it is the end of the year and my former intern, teaching buddy, and trusted friend came to me about a training she just went to. AND what did I do? SQUASH CITY! I am embarrassed to admit it...I had become the "old teacher" who was defending what I had always done… not budging...not even listening. She began to tell me about the Data Notebooks that the middle school kiddos were using and how we are going to do them next year. All I heard was...we are going to do them. {Did I have a choice?} Now, it is known and I will admit it is not one of my favorite traits but I am somewhat of a control freak. Thinking back I probably could have handled this situation better. 

So as the summer went on I thought about ways to make the Data Notebooks more meaningful to my firsties. And I realized I don't know much about them. So I am hoping to make a mends and listen. My ears and mind are open. Do you use Data Notebooks? What kinds of things do you put in them? How much time does it take for the kids? Can they do it independently? 

Then...just like usual the blogging fairy granted me a wish and her name is Mrs. Saoud.

She posted this giveaway today. Not only does it look meaningful… it's pretty darn cute too...which is making the "you were right and I was wrong” pill a little easier to swallow. Now, I can't wait to read her post about Data Notebooks. Be sure to check it out today. But why wait...let's get started here. I would love to hear how you use data notebooks. 

Until next time...

Anais