Interactive Notebooks Janice Belcher

EQ’s: How do I use interactive notebooks to engage learning in my classroom? How can interactive notebooks be used to integrate across the curriculum?

What are Interactive Notebooks? A note taking process that allows students to record information in a personal and meaningful way. A way for students use teacher supplied notes to draw whatever illustration makes sense to them. A way for students to personalize their work.

This Process… Can be challenging Takes a bit of patience Requires modeling, modeling, modeling Must consistently be reinforced Learning curve for both the teacher and the students

The Payoff… Students are able to organize their work Uses reading strategies within a content area, such as science, social studies or math Helps students distinguish between what they know and what they need to focus on

…And Finally Students make their own meaningful connections It encourages pride in student work It encourages cooperative learning It appeals to multiple intelligences The kids love it and learn so much!

Why Interactive Notebooks? Students use both their visual and linguistic intelligences. Interactive Notebooks allow visual learners to use their best medium to explore and share ideas Both types of learners will utilize their writing skills

Interactive Notebooks Allow Students to… Record information in an engaging way Rehearse and retell information Discuss and accept other’s ideas Identify main ideas Paraphrase Transform written concepts into visuals Become more independent thinkers

Notebooks Help Students to Organize as They Learn… Students record ideas about activities they engage in during a unit A variety of organization techniques will be used Assignments will be kept together in a regular place and in logical order

Notebooks Become a Portfolio on Individual Learning… Notebooks become a record of each student’s growth. Teachers, students, and parents can review a student’s progress in writing, recording, thinking, and organization skills.

In an Interactive Notebook, Key ideas are underlined in color or highlighted Arrows are used to show relationships between graphics and notes Diagrams, sketches, cartoons, charts, graphic organizers, songs, really anything can be included

How Do I Get Started? Identify which subject and unit you want to begin with Let students know what supplies are required Make sure you have copies of notes for each student

What Students Need… The notebook-loose leaf paper in a three pronged folder, spiral notebook, or composition book Pencils, regular and colored Liquid glue or a glue stick Scissors Ruler Teacher supplied notes Grading expectations

Components of Interactive Notebooks: Personalized Page Unit Title Page Table of Contents Standards Unit EQ’s Vocabulary Activities Graphic Organizers Foldables Pockets

Studying with Interactive Notebooks Read the notes. Marking and highlighting key concepts helps them to focus on main ideas. Paraphrasing helps them to process the information. Studying the graphics help students to create pictures in their minds. This is a fundamental difference between good and poor readers.

How is the Notebook graded? Explain rubric to students Conferencing-teacher and peer Notebooks may be collected with or without notice, so…. students MUST have their notebook everyday.

A Final Thought…. There is no right or wrong way to use them They can be used for any subject You know your students!!

Notebook Rubric Notebook grades will be based on: Thoroughness (Every page must be complete) Organization / Neatness Mark ups Boxing in Graphics

Now Lets Get Started!!

Resources ook.pdfhttp://upstagereview.org/ClassroomArticles/interactive%20noteb ook.pdf Classroom Instruction That Works! by Robert Marzano, Debra Pickering, and Jane Pollack