1. Keeping Students Engaged
Interactive Notebooks & Live Binders Dr. Jill Conlon Department of Family Consumer Science Minnesota State University, Mankato
Keeping Students Engaged

2. Are your students saying….
Are we doing anything today???
This is boring…
I can find my homework…
I didn’t do my homework…
Try Interactive Notebooks or
LiveBinders!

3. Interactive Notebooks

5. What is an Interactive notebook?
A working portfolio – containing notes, classwork, quizzes, journaling, drawing, foldables….in one convenient “package”.
A personalized “textbook”
Helps students organize
Greatest asset : A way to engage with content!

6. Purpose of Interactive notebook
Organizes notes, classwork, and homework
Involves students in “making sense” of their notes and content
Develops visual aids for learning, engaging, stimulates pride
Creates a personalized “textbook”
Teaches students “approaches to learning” that lead to success

7. The Left Side is for “Learning” The Right Side is “Restricted”
Left side vs. Right Side
The Left Side is for “Learning”
For the Student
The Right Side is “Restricted”
For the Teacher
Warm-ups
Webs, Diagrams
Poems
Reflections
Cartoons, comics
Illustrations
Other “Reflective Information”
Notes
Handouts
Foldable
Graphic Organizers
Study Guides
Vocabulary
Other “New Information”

8. Materials Used
Mead 5 Star Notebook, Composition Notebooks, 3-Ring notebook, Plastic Tab
Erasable pens, Colored pencils, Highlighters
Glue Stick (2/month) or Double-stick tape
Scissors
Colored Paper
Templates, Foldable, Diagrams

9. Organizational tips & Grading
Make sure students understand it is important to date and label each page – teacher needs to not have to search for assignment.
No writing on “backs” of pages as these become the “left” side.
Notebooks need to be in class everyday…may want to keep in classroom!
Some teachers choose to do a “Master Copy” or “Systems” or “Centers”
Have Rubric, Expectations Clearly Identified
Have “Introductory Pages”, Personalized Covers

10. Resources: Do Your Homework Favorites FACS Website Pinterest Foldables
Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest…
Oh MY!
Elementary – Core Classes
Teacher Pay Teacher
Blogs, Social Media
Internet Searches:
Interactive Student Notebooks (ISN)
Interactive Notebooks (INB)
FACS Website
Pinterest
Foldables

11. Live Binders

12. What is a Live Binder? Virtual Binders
They are literally binders that allow you to store information in the cloud.
View links like pages in a book instead of URLs on a page
Update easily, edit anytime, anyplace
All documents are organized by tabs
Works well with smartboard or classroom technology or laptop presentations
Can make LiveBinder private or public
Multiple Applications FREE! (100 MB Storage or 10 Binders)

13. Convenient

14. Ideas for Use Student Portfolios Student Assignments
Substitute Information
Parents
Profile FCS Program
Administrative Work
Find Resources, Create Resource List
Student Organizations, Extra- Curricular Activities
Many Possibilities

15. LiveBinders.com
FACS LiveBinder (Jackpot!!!)
AAFCS Webinar

16. qUESTIONS? Or What are Your experiences using Interactive Notebooks or LiveBinders?
THANK YOU !