VOCABULARY NOTEBOOK CHECK RUBRIC
Usefulness and importance of the Vocabulary Notebook
This is a complementary notebook that gathers all the specific vocabulary terms that are introduced every week through the illustrated vocabulary cards hung on the classroom pillars.
This vocabulary is introduced by the teacher, by reading and explaining the term and drawings related, and copied by the students as a do now in their specific vocabulary notebooks on the first day of the week (usually on Mondays). The vocabulary sheets remain hung in the class for a week, with the idea of helping them to learn, understand and remember key terms related to the content.
By copying key the vocabulary words and drawing illustrations related to them, students reinforce and create stronger connections between the words and significance.
Students will review their vocabulary at home and then write a coherent paragraph using all of the weekly vocabulary words. Paragraphs will be checked and two to three students will be asked to read them out loud. As one could expect, the level of thought and creativity put into the paragraphs should increase as student´s improve their level of English and critical thinking skills. In the case that your paragraphs are not up to standard, you will required to repeat the paragraph and present it in class the following day.
Another idea behind the vocabulary notebooks is that they will stay with you throughout your years at high school resulting in a comprehensive collection of content vocabulary.
I will check your vocabulary notebook periodically each term and I will grade it at least once a term (in dates previously fixed). I will be looking for well-organized, easy to read and understand, complete vocabulary notebooks. I will also evaluate the neatness that demonstrates that you care about the quality of your work. I will provide you with a rubric in which you will be clearly aware of those aspects specifically scrutinized in your notebook to understand your final grade each term. If you don´t understand it, come for clarification soon, you shouldn´t wait until grading day.
Vocabulary notebooks will receive two different grades both valued at 5% of your overall grade. One of them refers specifically to the vocabulary notebook as a whole and the second comes from the writing assignments.
MAIN GUIDELINES
The next specifications are not simple suggestions, all of them should be followed by each student given that the grade depends on them.
OVERALL ORGANIZATION AND SPECIFICATIONS
- Only allowed a specific type of notebook: stapled Papyrus or similar but with thick pages to avoid bleeding from the other side of the page whenever you write on them. Note: smaller size (A5).
- The notebook must be covered in plastic to protect it.
- The Notebook must be properly labeled including in the front page:
- In the last pages of the notebook you will paste the vocabulary notebook check rubrics for each term.
- The vocabulary notebook must contain only Social Studies material.
- There must be a chronological reference for each new set of vocabulary words and paragraphs. It should be easy for me and for you to find a specific day of vocabulary. Write the date in the upper right hand corner.
- Every term must be marked with a title that shows its beginning.
- Front or back covers are not badly torn or missing.
LAYOUT
Vocabulary notebooks will follow a specific pattern and set of guidelines. On the left-hand page you will write the five vocabulary words, part of speech and the definition, and their translation. You will underline or highlight the vocabulary words in a different color. Below the vocabulary words you will be required to draw or print illustrations connected to one or more of the vocabulary words (with the aim of helping you create stronger mental connections with the vocabulary words). From time to time you will be selected to explain your choice of illustrations.
On the right-hand page you will write your paragraph. Do not forget to title the paragraph and include the date. The paragraph must include all of the vocabulary words respecting the part of speech listed and be a minimum of 10 sentences and no more than one complete page (control the size of your penmanship). It is good practice, although not compulsory, to relate the paragraphs to the content being studied. Underline the vocabulary words in your paragraphs in a different color to make them easily visible.
NEATNESS AND READABILITY
- All the pages must be neat with legible handwriting
- Only black or blue ink for vocabulary words and paragraphs. Pencil is not allowed except for drafts or drawings that will be eventually completed. Feel free to use another color to underline the words in both pages.
- All words and paragraphs are clearly titled, dated and easy to locate.
- Definitions and paragraphs are easy to follow and understand (free of grammar or spelling mistakes and coherent writing).
- Color is only used to aid in understanding.
- All printed illustrations are cut and glued straight and proportionally to their sizes and they are not protruding from the notebook
- Not torn out pages.
- Use of ruler for every straight line whenever is required.
- Margins – There should be a 1 centimeter margin at the top and bottom of the page with a 1,5 centimeter margin on the left-hand side of the page
COMPLETENESS
- All vocabulary words and paragraphs must be present, including from days of absence. Warning: Being absent is not an excuse for not getting the vocabulary words from someone else or from the classroom any other day since they remain there for the whole week. Paragraphs must be also written and shown to the teacher upon return from your absence.
AESTHETICS
This is valued whenever a student introduces creativity and design in her or his notebook. This applies primarily to the quality of the paragraphs and the selected images to represent the vocabulary words. The result is a unique vocabulary notebook that exceeds the common frame.
Usefulness and importance of the Vocabulary Notebook
This is a complementary notebook that gathers all the specific vocabulary terms that are introduced every week through the illustrated vocabulary cards hung on the classroom pillars.
This vocabulary is introduced by the teacher, by reading and explaining the term and drawings related, and copied by the students as a do now in their specific vocabulary notebooks on the first day of the week (usually on Mondays). The vocabulary sheets remain hung in the class for a week, with the idea of helping them to learn, understand and remember key terms related to the content.
By copying key the vocabulary words and drawing illustrations related to them, students reinforce and create stronger connections between the words and significance.
Students will review their vocabulary at home and then write a coherent paragraph using all of the weekly vocabulary words. Paragraphs will be checked and two to three students will be asked to read them out loud. As one could expect, the level of thought and creativity put into the paragraphs should increase as student´s improve their level of English and critical thinking skills. In the case that your paragraphs are not up to standard, you will required to repeat the paragraph and present it in class the following day.
Another idea behind the vocabulary notebooks is that they will stay with you throughout your years at high school resulting in a comprehensive collection of content vocabulary.
I will check your vocabulary notebook periodically each term and I will grade it at least once a term (in dates previously fixed). I will be looking for well-organized, easy to read and understand, complete vocabulary notebooks. I will also evaluate the neatness that demonstrates that you care about the quality of your work. I will provide you with a rubric in which you will be clearly aware of those aspects specifically scrutinized in your notebook to understand your final grade each term. If you don´t understand it, come for clarification soon, you shouldn´t wait until grading day.
Vocabulary notebooks will receive two different grades both valued at 5% of your overall grade. One of them refers specifically to the vocabulary notebook as a whole and the second comes from the writing assignments.
MAIN GUIDELINES
The next specifications are not simple suggestions, all of them should be followed by each student given that the grade depends on them.
OVERALL ORGANIZATION AND SPECIFICATIONS
- Only allowed a specific type of notebook: stapled Papyrus or similar but with thick pages to avoid bleeding from the other side of the page whenever you write on them. Note: smaller size (A5).
- The notebook must be covered in plastic to protect it.
- The Notebook must be properly labeled including in the front page:
- Subject´s name: Vocabulary of Social Studies. This is usually artistically decorated
- Student´s name and class number
- Course name
- Teacher´s name
- School year
- In the last pages of the notebook you will paste the vocabulary notebook check rubrics for each term.
- The vocabulary notebook must contain only Social Studies material.
- There must be a chronological reference for each new set of vocabulary words and paragraphs. It should be easy for me and for you to find a specific day of vocabulary. Write the date in the upper right hand corner.
- Every term must be marked with a title that shows its beginning.
- Front or back covers are not badly torn or missing.
LAYOUT
Vocabulary notebooks will follow a specific pattern and set of guidelines. On the left-hand page you will write the five vocabulary words, part of speech and the definition, and their translation. You will underline or highlight the vocabulary words in a different color. Below the vocabulary words you will be required to draw or print illustrations connected to one or more of the vocabulary words (with the aim of helping you create stronger mental connections with the vocabulary words). From time to time you will be selected to explain your choice of illustrations.
On the right-hand page you will write your paragraph. Do not forget to title the paragraph and include the date. The paragraph must include all of the vocabulary words respecting the part of speech listed and be a minimum of 10 sentences and no more than one complete page (control the size of your penmanship). It is good practice, although not compulsory, to relate the paragraphs to the content being studied. Underline the vocabulary words in your paragraphs in a different color to make them easily visible.
NEATNESS AND READABILITY
- All the pages must be neat with legible handwriting
- Only black or blue ink for vocabulary words and paragraphs. Pencil is not allowed except for drafts or drawings that will be eventually completed. Feel free to use another color to underline the words in both pages.
- All words and paragraphs are clearly titled, dated and easy to locate.
- Definitions and paragraphs are easy to follow and understand (free of grammar or spelling mistakes and coherent writing).
- Color is only used to aid in understanding.
- All printed illustrations are cut and glued straight and proportionally to their sizes and they are not protruding from the notebook
- Not torn out pages.
- Use of ruler for every straight line whenever is required.
- Margins – There should be a 1 centimeter margin at the top and bottom of the page with a 1,5 centimeter margin on the left-hand side of the page
COMPLETENESS
- All vocabulary words and paragraphs must be present, including from days of absence. Warning: Being absent is not an excuse for not getting the vocabulary words from someone else or from the classroom any other day since they remain there for the whole week. Paragraphs must be also written and shown to the teacher upon return from your absence.
AESTHETICS
This is valued whenever a student introduces creativity and design in her or his notebook. This applies primarily to the quality of the paragraphs and the selected images to represent the vocabulary words. The result is a unique vocabulary notebook that exceeds the common frame.