Stumbling through Evernote

Evernote. A website I wanted to explore this year but was massively overwhelmed and almost afraid to try. A few weeks ago I posted a question on my blog about Evernote. Several replies on Twitter led to a few teachers gathering in a Google Hangout. My main question was that I had created a form in Google Docs for reading conferences. Wasn’t there a way to fill out the form and embed it in my students Evernote notebooks? It seems not. We did discover a way to put the link in the notebooks but the information was still stored in Google.

Not to be discouraged, I continued to use Evernote but just took audio recordings of my students reading during conferences and then wrote some quick notes below those. There’s nothing wrong with this but I still wished there was an easier way.

Tonight upon reading the blogs stacked up in my Google Reader I came upon one from Evernote (EN) about some website called KustomNote. From the description it seemed that you could created forms with KustomNote.

I went to the site and logged in with my EN account info. Once there I watched a quick tutorial. Then, I selected “create a new template.” I called it “Reading Conferences” and filled in the fields. I saved this one to a general notebook of mine. At the bottom there are “note fields.” When I wanted a blank field I chose “text field.” When I wanted checkboxes I chose “multiple checkbox.” I left possible values, note title, and tagging blank. From this I created my first template.

Then came the redundant work. I have a notebook for all 72 kids in reading. I went to the template I had created and selected “clone.” Then I’d select my first student’s notebook and write their name in the title with “Reading Conference Form” and save that template. Then, I’d go back to the original form and select “clone” again and repeat the same steps with the next student – 71 times. Surely there is a faster way to do this but I couldn’t figure it out. The reason this step was necessary, I think, was because when using the form you can’t alter which notebook the info goes to. So this way I have a master reading form for each student. When I create a “new note” from that form, the information will be sent to their notebook.

The only two downfalls I see are as follows.

One – I think you have to go to the KustomNote site to edit the forms, not Evernote. It will send the info directly to EN but as far as I can tell, this is required. I’ve saved a link on my homescreen on my iPad right by my EN app to make this easier.

Two – I don’t see a way to record audio in this. So I think I will alternate my conferences. Audio and quick notes one day, form the next.

So my eyes are bleary, my hands are tired of typing, but I’m super excited. Hoping this works well but I won’t really know until I can use it with my kids. I did a “test” one, as you will see in the screen shots, and it seemed to work great. Tomorrow’s a field trip day so I will try and report back on Friday. 

My template (part of it). Click on the green plus to add a note.

How the format changes when you add a note.

What the note looks like when sent to EN notebooks.

My home page with all student "master" forms. Select one, add new note, and is sent to EN.

Celebration, Reminder, and a Question

Today was one of those days at school – the days that rock, but you don’t expect it. This year we are having an early out once a month, on a Wednesday, for school improvement. Usually early dismissal days translate to crazier than usual (but just as loveable) kids. Today was the exception to the rule.

We began the day with library checkout. Anytime I can visit our library, and our librarian, I’m a happy person. I can’t think of much more that I’d like to do with my time than wander through the fiction and non-fiction rooms matching books to kids. It’s glorious.

After library we trucked upstairs to our classroom. I introduced my students to Kate Messner’s book basket and book talked all of her books. Then I told them how much I’ve learned from Kate and her book Real Revision – review to follow. I talked to them about how, when I was their age, I thought “revising” meant find any errors: spelling, capitalization, punctuation. We talked about making our papers better. I gave them a checklist and they began the hard work of drafting and revising.

There was a good chunk of uninterrupted time. We listened to our #thewonderofwonder soundtrack, thanks John, as we wrote. My student teacher and I moved around the room, getting the chance to confer with ever writer. I had to smile as a group of boys quietly sang Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful. Awesome. I met with one writer, “K”, who was very unsure of the direction of his paper and was feeling frustrated. We talked about looking for inspiration everywhere, living like a writer. (This will be important later.) 

All too soon it was time for music and then lunch. I ran home at lunch and was surprised to find a box from a friend, Brenda Power. She had come across some small notebooks and thought my students might enjoy them. Um, yes they will! I brought them back in and you would have thought it was Christmas morning!

Then we did a quick rotation, they were off to math and social studies for 40 minutes, and I taught two shortened reading classes. Rushing back in to pack up for an early dismissal, “K” rushed over to me. It seems they had watched some clips from 9/11 in social studies. He looked at me and said, “Do you care if I revise my greatness essay? I watched the videos on 9/11 and you were right, something came to me. I know how I can make it better.” Holy smokes. For a kid that four hours before was doubting himself to a child that was now holding his new notebook from Brenda in his hands with notes he had jotted down during a video – so amazing!

So yes, today rocked. One of those days to treasure in the back of your mind and come back to again and again. And those greatness essays? The ones I took from my ideas on THIS blog post? Such an awesome experience. I had been leery of doing them as my first unit. I know the writing would likely be a higher quality if I had waited. But the information I am learning about this group of kids through the writing of them? Unreal. Love it!

As for the question I have– anyone have experience with Evernote? I’m trying it this year and have a form I usually fill out (paper/ pencil) during conferences. What’s the best way to still use that format but send it to Evernote? Fill it out and take a photo? Fill it out on my computer and upload? Is there a way to create the form to use again and again in Evernote? Any assistance is welcome!

Finally – tomorrow is the last day for my Captain Underpants giveaway. Enter HERE!