Using Science Notebooks
A Science Notebook is… a personalized, standards-based textbook. a working portfolio—all of your students notes, classwork, homework, quizzes, and anything else in a permanent convenient spot. a place to record information, process ideas, and make connections. designed to develop independent, creative thinkers and writers.
What is the Purpose of an ISN? The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable students to become creative, independent and reflective thinkers and writers throughout the year. Interactive notebooks will be used for class notes as well as for other activities where students will be asked to express their own ideas and process and or apply the information and skills learned in this class. It also helps students review for semester exams.
Why Use a Notebook? Organization Help Students Sequence Assignments Formative Assessments and Notes are together in a single place to make teacher assessment and helping students understand concepts an uncomplicated process. Provide opportunities to spiral instruction and facilitate learning Writing Down notes helps facilitate learning Gives permission to be creative—allows use of the right brain in traditionally left-brained subjects.
How do Notebooks Help Students? Teach them to condense and summarize information. Help distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information. Use to compare and contrast information. Use to make connections in their work. Gives a ready reference of the charts and facts that science students need to access for both class work and homework.
The trick to using notebooks effectively and efficiently in the classroom is… To have routines established for everything that you can. (ie storing materials and supplies, student use of notebooks and supplies, type of notebook and where everything goes in the notebook. The more established routines you have in the classroom, the more automatic the notebook becomes and the less class time it cuts in on.
What type of notebook to use?
Notebook Storage
Materials Binders, Notebooks, or Composition Books Glue, Glue Sticks, or Tape Colored Pencils Crayons Markers Highlighters Red Pens Index Cards Plain White Paper
Page Design
Have a Plan for Using Notebooks In—Through—Out Left Side—Right Side Hook—Line—Sinker There should be a teacher directed portion, that is objective and a student directed portion, that is subjective. When you have 3 sections to each lesson or page, the student directed portion is split into 2 parts—Part 1 is done before the teacher directed portion and Part 2 is done after the teacher directed portion.
Lesson Ideas BeginningMiddleEnd Test Prep Question (LEAP, ACT, SAT) Critical Thinking Questions Brain Teasers Logic Problems Brainstorming Word Sorts Lecture Notes Lab Activities Chapter Outline Cornell Notes SQ3R Notes—Survey, Question, Read, Respond, Reflect Question Strip Video Notes Guest Speakers Study Guides Vocabulary Practice Problems Current Event Summary Illustrations Concept/Mind Maps Invitations Acrostic Poems Haiku Song Lyrics Letter Mnemonic Devices Textbook Reading/ Questions Biographical Poems Comic Strips Magazine Cover V3—Visual, Verbal, Vocabulary Student Written Questions or Problems
Assignments in the Classroom
Some Notebook Ideas…
Some Notebooking Ideas
Some Notebook Ideas
Some Notebook Ideas…
Some Notebooking Ideas…
Some Notebook Ideas…
Fish Water Raccoon Sun Energy Flow in a Riverbank Environment
Some Notebooking Ideas…
Concept Maps Comic Strips
Some Notebooking Ideas… Acrostic Poems Venn Diagrams
Some Notebooking Ideas…
Some Notebook Ideas…
Have a Plan for Grading Notebooks Dot System—Look at and grade 5 or so notebooks per class per day. Grade Complete lessons for completeness and give feedback on activities.
To Make Pages the Correct Size for Composition Books: Step 1: From Page Layout, Choose margins then narrow.
To Make Pages the Correct Size for Composition Books: Step 2: From Page Layout Choose Orientation Than Landscape
To Make Pages the Correct Size for Composition Books: Step 3: From Page Layout Choose Columns Then Two.
Dinah Zike Foldable Books
The Teacher’s Friend—Vista Print
Planbook by Hellman ($30.00)