Binder Checks

Every Wednesday students are required to have their binders checked. This entails a check of their actual binder for organization, as well as a check of their notes.

The requirements:

• One set of notes for each core subject (Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Science)
• Recent notes from that week (Wednesday-Wednesday)
• Follow the rubric

Binder Check Form

Cornell Note Form

Students are required to complete four sets of notes each week. Students can use notes they've completed in class as part of an assignment or they can create their own. If their teachers do not assign notes, students are responsible for taking or creating notes on what they are learning that week. For instance, if students are completing a science lab they can take or create notes on the process, steps, content, etc. If students are reading a story in Language Arts, they can complete notes on the topic, setting, plot, or whatever is relevant to the story. The purpose of these notes is for students to use them as a study tool. By going over the content in each of their core subjects every week, they are reviewing information, and through repetition, will gain a greater understanding of content.  AVID students were taught this process in depth in the first few weeks of the school year, and we reviewed the process again when we returned from Winter Break.  Below are some excellent student created examples of Cornell Focus Notes.