Did you know the CCPensieve can

[Gail_Boushey]

The CAFE Conferring Pensieve is the online conferring notebook. Share the features that you find most helpful, others want to know! www.ccpensieve.com

[Meghan]

I started using the pensive in my classroom this year. I love it! Using the online pensive helped me keep much better track of who was working on what at a glance. The student records that are you are able to maintain with this tool are wonderful.

[ellen_cawood]

I too used the pensive this past year and am so excited to use it again this upcoming year! I used my teacher iPad to access the site and, sadly, I think I have lost some muscle tone in my arms because I no longer have to tote around my LARGE binder (haha). My favorite feature of the CCPensive is how my student's latest individual conference and group conference are both displayed to the right of where I am currently taking notes. It makes it easier to "refresh" myself right before the conference, but it is also nice to refer to during the conference..."I think she was having trouble with the word only in group too... (quick glance) Oh yeah, she was!" You can also directly compare what they have done in group and what they have done in individual conferences. I am also really fond of the fact that the CCPensive has tracking categories for more than just reading. Using the pensive to track my student's writing process had a HUGE impact on my instruction. I was able to pinpoint what my students continually struggled with (Uh, capital letters and punctuation!) and address it more intentionally. This year I plan to use it to track the learning behaviors of my barometer children. Even though I am absolutely smitten with the CCPensive I do have a few "wants."

1. I would love a little box to be placed under "strategy" but above "observations and instructions" that was titled "current book." Currenlty, I type it in the observation section but the little OCD person inside of me wants it to have its own box.

2. I would LOVE a feature that allowed you to take a picture (or even a short video!) with your iPad and attach it to the observation you are currently filling out. Just think how powerful it could be to take a snapshot of a child's journal entry or a quick video of them demonstrating (or not demonstrating) a CAFE skill. It could be shared with parents during a conferences or even with coaches, RTI teachers, Reading Recovery teachers, or the child!

3. It would be nice if in the "Observations and Instruction" section if, when you hit enter and created a new line/paragraph, it stayed in the same format once saved.

[Meghan]

These are great suggestions, especially the one to add a spot to attach in a video. This would be a great way to look at student growth.

[kmichaud]

I absolutely love the pensieve website!

I have noticed that I go to the "check in" section to see who I haven't met with as often when I have time to do an unscheduled conference. Then I will go to conference and realize I have the scheduled for one or two days out. It would be great if the date you have scheduled to meet with students would appear (maybe greyed out) so I can see when I last met with all my students and who I already have follow ups with so I can go to the students who don't have future conferences scheduled.

[melodrae]

I have not started the CCPensieve. I use the notebook BUT I would LOVE to have an APP for Daily 5 check in for my Iphone..others I am sure for Android. I just started using one for attendance (Teacher Aide) and it is fabulous. Maybe you can tag on to one of these companies? The Attendance is free but the Daily 5 check in could be an upgrade?
Thanks for considering.

[srea]

The best place for the CCPensieve developers to see your idea is to go to www.ccpensieve.com and click on the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page. The are always interested to hear teacher suggestions.

[melodrae]

OK...I can't stand it! I am going to get a tablet so that I can use the CCPensieve. It is too hard to carry my notebook
(I shattered my wrist last year) and I feel like I would be better about documenting if I had the mobility of the tablet.
What operating systems work with the ccpensieve ? Any recommendations? I might be able to afford a used Ipad but more than likely it will be something else. Thanks for any recommendations!

[srea]

It should work on any device that has internet, as it is a web-based program. I use my ipad all the time, and it is really convenient. I'm sure other devices work as well. I have a friend who uses the microphone on the ipad to record her notes. That might be something to think about in your situation. I expect (but don't know) that other devices have the same capability.

[melodrae]

OK..well then, let the search begin! What size screen do you have?
If anyone else has recommendations, I welcome them as this will be a big investment for me..

[srea]

Mine is an iPad 4--maybe 6-7 in screen (don't have it here with me now). I do think one of our teachers uses a Nook. (I'm on spring break right now--that's why I'm not sure.)

[melodrae]

I LOVE THIS PENSIEVE!!!
I got myself a tablet with keyboard. It arrived last weekend. I loaded up the CCPensieve et VOILA! I am free! I am still trying to discover things. (For example, can I edit comments already saved? ) However, I feel so much more empowered. My notebook had become overstuffed and I realized I was not adding notes as much as I should. I can also make more meaningful comments as I am not limited by space. The drop down menus are incredibly helpful. An added bonus is that my work space is CLEAR--at Last! (And my students think I am super cool since I am using a tablet.)
Are there online tutorials so I can get all the benefits of this great system?
And, please..if you have anyone hesitating about going this route...send them my way.
Melody

[srea]

YEAH!! That's the way I feel. The keyboard lets me listen and type at the same time, which my kids think is really cool. The other most amazing point I have with the CCP is that if you have a reading specialist or other person who works with any of your children, and has a membership themselves, you can "share" your students. Then, the notes you take and the notes they take are recorded in the SAME place. So, if I as a reading specialist, I come into a classroom and pull up my CCP, I see just what the classroom teacher has written and can piggy-back off his/her work. The kids also think that is cool--from one first grader, "How did you do that--it's just like texting".

If you come up with any new ides that you would like to see on the Pensieve, please let the CCP developers know through the "contact us" link at the bottom of the log in page.

ENJOY!!

[sherrye_ginn]

Can I login to CC Pensieve on more than one devise at a time?

[srea]

I just tried it out--I was able to log in on both my laptop and Ipad. As soon as I entered something in conferring notes, I could click on the student's name on the other device and see what I'd posted.

[srea]

Have you sen the newest feature on the CCPensieve? It's a check-in that is super easy to use--and editable!!! I haven't used it too much, but plan to start off the year with it next year, for sure!!

[melodrae]

Thanks! I will check it out!

[smithkd_3]

I had a question about the pensive. Is there anyway to go back and fill in previous days in the check in? I have not been able to fill in days that I have missed in this section.

[srea]

I wasn't sure, so I just went and tried it myself. I do not see a way you can do that. It doesn't ever show more than the last week and the current week, and as best as I can tell, you can only edit days where you've put in choices. Now, if you've put in even one choice on a day, you can edit (and probably add) to that date.

[coverton123]

You can create an entry, which will show up as the current date automatically. Then go back and "edit" that entry. You can then change the date to whatever date you want, and the entry now appears as "written" on that date.