Competency Notebooks

Competency Notebooks are portfolios which provide evidence that students are working on and mastering the competencies required at the Academy.

AAST Competency Notebook Sections: (see above links for DC specific sections)

A Learning Log can be a very important learning tool in the classroom . It is used to reflect on what you are doing and learning. When you think about what has been taught or discussed or presented, then you will be more likely to understand, make connections, and retain what you have learned. You should use your learning logs for purposes such as the following:
• Reflection on guest speakers
• Reflection on individual field experiences
• Reflection on class field trips
• Weekly reports on senior exhibition or community service progress
• Connections to what you are doing in your academic classes
• Reflections on class activities, class discussions, and/or assigned readings

• You will be asked to write Learning Log entries at least once a week.
• After you have turned in your learning logs and had them checked by the teacher, be sure that you keep them in a section of your competency notebook.
• Be sure to date your learning log entries so that you can at a glance see if you are keeping up with them as directed.
• Set your standards high on the quality of writing in your learning log entries. Ask your teacher for samples of good learning logs that show evidence of real thinking and reflecting.
• Focus on what you have been asked to write about. Sometimes you may be asked to comment on what you have done today or this week, but at other times you may be given a specific topic or question to focus on.

You should have a section in your Competency Notebooks for the academic core competencies. These core competencies are important in every class that you take at the Academy, and all of your teachers should be helping you to master these competencies.

At certain points during the year, your teachers will discuss your progress toward meeting your core competencies

Your major teacher will tell you how he/she wants you to prepare your assignments that you keep in your notebook.

• You may be asked to attach an Evidence Sheet to certain assignments in your notebook. To prepare an Evidence Sheet, simply write a short paragraph that explains the assignment and the grade that you made and make a list of the Core Competencies and the Major Competencies that you used to do the assignment. A list of these competencies is saved on the computers in the classroom so that you can access them.

• At certain points during the year, your Major teacher will discuss your progress toward meeting your major competencies.

In this section of the Competency Notebook, you will have a copy of the Employability/Life Skills Competencies.

• At the end of each nine weeks, you will write a learning log in which you comment on each grade that you received for the nine weeks. Explain what you did to earn the grades you received, noting whether or not you are satisfied with your grades. Include any plans you have for improvement.

• Most of your academic classes will use some kind of competency folders or evidence folders where you will keep work samples throughout the year. You will be expected to periodically evaluate your progress toward meeting the competencies for your academic classes.

• You may be asked in your academic classes to complete Evidence Sheets for your folders. Evidence Sheets include a short paragraph that explains the assignment and the grade that you made and lists the academic course competencies that you used to do the assignment.

• At certain points during the year, academic teachers will discuss your progress toward meeting your academic competencies.