The Conferring Notes System That Finally Works for Me: Google Forms

Every year, I try something a bit different. A few years ago, I had a collaborative binder that I shared with my teaching assistant. Last year, I had a little notebook with a student checklist on the first page. I’d write the date next to each student on the day I conferred with them. Within the pages of the notebook, I had a page dedicated to each student where I wrote notes and next steps.

This year, I am trying to go digital with a Google Form. Here’s how it works.

1. Add every student’s name into a dropdown list. This way, you can select the student instead of typing their name each time.
2. Consider the writing skills you’d like to prioritize as checkboxes. I thought it might be handy to use skills right off my report card, but you may use a different rubric or checklist. You could even change the checkboxes based on your unit or genre.
3. Make sure to include space for narrative comments (sometimes called Glows and Grows). Be sure there’s space to note your next teaching point.

Click “View in Sheets” to see all your responses in a spreadsheet. I use the “Sort by” tool to guide instructional decision-making. When I sort by student name, all my notes about each writer are in one place. I can also sort by skill or by next teaching point to quickly identify patterns and form small groups.

Each Google Form response automatically includes a date stamp, which helps me ensure I meet with every student regularly. (Tracking dates also keeps me from over-conferencing with my neediest students, which supports their independence.) Here’s what my spreadsheet looks like, with student names covered for privacy.

Putting it into Practice

I have to carry my laptop or iPad around the classroom, but since I type faster than I write, it’s worth it. The dropdowns and checkboxes make note-taking quick and consistent.

I keep two tabs open when I confer with a student: the actual form and the spreadsheet with notes. This allows me to check what a student and I chatted about last time and reminds me of my next teaching point. Using the search feature of the spreadsheet is much faster than flipping through my notebook to find the page about a certain student. Bonus: If you have coteachers in the room during writing workshop, other adults can use the form too. Consider adding a checkbox to record which teacher took the notes.

Overall, I think this is much faster and more organized. The best part is I can update and edit the Google Form as needed throughout the year. Would you give this a try? Comment below how you tackle conferring notes in your class! And remember, whether you go digital or stick to paper, finding a system that lets you focus more on students and less on note-taking makes all the difference.