Hello Baiba,

All my students have a copybook/notebook, as very often in  French Junior Highschools.I do use it a lot � as it is their main tool really ( Not ALL my classes have English books ( from publishers ), so I use a lot of ws � mainly from here ;o))

I tried different tools, eg files, but it was a real mess with the young ones...

Every day, we write the main things to be remembered, write a few examples, & kids do their homework in their copybooks. When I have meetings, parents usually tell me it�s a great tool in that they can see what their child has been learning so far.

Each chapter � we call it �s�quence� starts with a small  paper where I tell the kids what they are going to learn, & what the evaluation will be about. ( ex : I can speak/write about my daily routine ; I can  use the Present Simple ; I�ll learn new vocabulary : Wake up, have breakfast.... At the end of Chapter..., I can tell you about what i usually do on school days = Test ) There�s always a part where the kids have to write/ draw something. ( Essays for the 14-year-old ones, drawings or simple sentences for the younger kids.) In fact, this part is the most important one � ie for the personal productions. I always evaluate their copybooks - & it�s a lot of work!! :o)) ( criteria = It�s neat ( dates, lessons copied, papers glued...), The student has included his/her personal work, homework done....etc)

When I teach European Classes ( few students, good level..) which are optional, my students have files, where they have to organize their work � Humanities, English-speaking countries, readings, essays...)

I once met a French teacher of English who showed me his students�files : I was amazed!!! Even the young ones produced such wonderful books!! I must admit I �ve never been able to get results like his...

When my colleagues & I organize a trip to the UK ( almost every year...) we now ask our kids to buy a notebook � which we evaluate & give prizes to the most wonderful ones. ( Instead of marking it, which would be a nonsense...)Our students know what they have to do, of course : Tell us about their trip ( ferry ), about their British host family, about the monuments/towns they visited..etc) They have to write their diary � in English.._ & paste drawings or photos, tickets,... I once even got stones glued on a page : Miss, they�re from the beach we went last Sunday!! :o)))

Hi Baiba ,You can use a rubric for evaluting the notebooks .You can give the pupils your rubric So they know which  criterions that you want to see on their notebooks .You can arrange a rubric yourself by making use of this link ,