Class Information Folders

In order to know your learners, you need to do a little research.  Other than introduction tasks and activities at the start of the year, it will be useful to know their backgrounds and identities to get a general picture of who they are as both a student and an individual in your class.

Digital Markbooks

Other than KAMAR has a key resource, setting up a digital markbook allows you to add and update information easily while keeping ever student's details in one place. There are various Google apps that can be used, but using Sheets and Docs alongside Classroom will be the most helpful.

If you know your way around making the most of Sheets features, investing a little time in term 1 to set up a good system may prove to be worth it across the year. By turning it into a one stop shop that houses essential academic and pastoral information, writing reports, preparing for parent teacher interviews, or pastoral meetings can become an easier process. I (LEK) am happy to help you set this up if you'd like, and the link to my 2023 markbook has been shared with you on the Google Classroom. Please keep this document confidential.

Some categories to consider are:

• Form class

• Preferred name and/or pronouns

• Ethnicity and language(s) spoken

• Previous year's assessment results

• Current year's subjects

• Special assessment conditions and notes from Learning Enhancement

• Extra-curricular

Profile forms

This year, I have started keeping a profile form on each student. The form is filled out by the student at the start of the year. Questions are primarily on the subject, such as their attitude towards it, strengths and weaknesses, help required, goals, etc. as well as some about the student in general. These are kept in a display folder along with other important documents, such as the Learning Enhancement notes (printed out) and assessment agreement forms that we have the students and their parents sign in all English classes. I have found them to be very insightful. Find them here - please feel free to adapt and use: junior form and senior form.

Class Surveys

Online forms such as Google Forms and Survey Monkey are great ways to gather information about your classes. These may be for get-to-know-you information or simply as a way to connect with your students, especially your form class. For example, you could make a themed form (e.g. music - favourite song for the car, best song to chill out to, a musician you'd like to invite for dinner, the song you want to know all the lyrics to, etc.) for a regular form class activity.