1. AP Literature Interactive Student Notebook
A Key Element to Success

2. Have you ever heard yourself say . . .
I can't find my . . .
notes, homework, old quizzes . . .
I can't remember what
we did in class yesterday...
I'm sure its in . . .
my locker . . .
my book bag . . .
my room . . .
I was absent last week. Did I miss anything?

3. Keep it all together with your
Interactive
Notebook!

4. What is an Interactive Student Notebook?
A personalized, clear, student-created textbook and study tool
A working portfolio -- all of your notes, handouts, classwork, reflections, etc. -- in one convenient spot

5. Purpose?
Become a creative, independent, and reflective thinker and writer throughout the year.
Express your own ideas and process/apply the information and skills learned in class.

6. How will it help me? Condense and summarize information
Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information
Compare and contrast information
Make connections
Writing ideas
Portfolio of learning

7. WHY? Writing down notes does not mean you have learned the material.
In an ISN, note-taking becomes more active; active = learning
Notes are organized
Permission to be playful and creative
Reminder to absorb ideas

8. LEFT SIDE – RIGHT SIDE ORIENTATION
Left side items are the students…
REFLECTIONS
…output
Right side items are things from the teacher and text to be learned…
TESTABLE ITEMS
…input

10. Right Side The right side “belongs” to Ms. Steinbach and the text.
The right side has “testable” information.
The right side has a toolbox with vocabulary, literary terminology, test prep notes, novel background lecture material.
Teacher guided graphic organizers & foldables
The right side has a summary for the day.

11. Examples of Teacher Right Side Content
Notes
Vocabulary & literary terms
Handouts
Graphic organizers
Content to go on a foldable
Reading Comprehension Questions

12. The Right Side Should be completely done
Should have the title of the assignment at the top of the page, the date, and the page should be numbered in the top, right-hand corner.
All right side assignments should be done only on the right side of your notebook unless I tell you otherwise.

13. Left Side The left is for “Your Way” of understanding the material.
The left side belongs to YOU!
The left side is where you record your PROCESSING of the teacher-provided notes, handouts, etc. (i.e. of the right side items).

14. Examples of Student Left Side Work/Products
Completed graphic organizers
Foldables
Your re-writing of notes into your own words and/or with illustrations and examples
Brainstorming
Mnemonic devices
Songs, Poems, Raps to help you remember the material or to demonstrate your understanding of a concept

15. More Examples of Left Side Work/Products
Journal entries
Novel reflections
Informative setting illustrations (maps)
Content-based cartoons
Organized topics and subtopics
Vocabulary Graphics
Cause & Effect flow charts
Plot timelines
Illustrations of literary figures
Color and highlighting
Personal Response
Journal Entries

16. More Left Side Ideas

17. Sample Illustrated Timeline

19. Left Side Work

20. Sample Foldables

21. Sample Venn Diagram

22. Student Supplies Three-Ring Binder with loose leaf paper Dividers
Pencil bag of supplies

23. Pencil Bag Contents Colored Pencils Highlighters of various colors
Colorful Post-It® notes
Glue sticks or tape (I have some, but I will run out)
Hand-held pencil sharpener (optional)

24. Is this for a grade?
YES!
I will spot check your ISNs at random times throughout the semester (at least once per quarter).
The spot-checking will be unannounced, so keep up with your notebooks. It’s more for you, anyway.

25. The Grade
Will be a summative grade (80 percent) because the left side of this notebook will demonstrate your personal mastery of what we are learning.
Graded on correctness, critical thinking, completeness, organization, creativity.
Your work must be original!

26. What if I’m absent?
Notebook entries, like any other assignment, must be made up.
Check with me, a classmate, or my Weebly website to find out what you missed.

27. What if I don’t have it when you check it?
You have one calendar day to bring it in for me to check.
It darn well better be good!

28. What if I use a computer?
Print your notes and assignments and put them in your notebook.
Take time each day to organize your notebook.
You never know when I’ll be spot checking.

29. How Long Will it Take?
Normally, you will have time in class to work on the right side of your notebook; you may end up with time to work on the left, as well.
The expectation is that you revisit the right side that evening to review the material by completing a left side activity of your choosing.
Once you have a good understanding of the kinds of left side activities you can do, it should take you about minutes to complete the left side of your ISN.

30. Maintaining the Interactive Notebook
Date and number each page
No doodling that doesn’t relate to notes
In essence, keep it neat!

31. Components of your Interactive Notebook
Cover – create colorful cover that represents YOUR learning style!
Table of Contents – I will provide you with several template pages for this.

32. Sample Table of Contents