Interactive Notebooks

An innovative strategy for students and teachers

What is an Interactive Notebook?

Interactive Notebooks are a tool to strengthen student learning of curriculum (the input) through increased student participation (the output).

Simply put, more bang for the buck !

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Why use Interactive Notebooks?

The Student Perspective Claims ownership & responsibility Chooses ways to process information

and gets to reflect on what’s been learned.

Includes more learning styles. Develops higher-level thinking skills. Organizes learning over time. Work doesn’t get lost!

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Why use Interactive Notebooks?

The Teacher Perspective Make learning more democratic and

inclusive. Motivate participation. Self-evaluate curriculum critically. Monitor student progress easily. Reduce time spent evaluating student work. Get ‘real’ student feedback on each unit. Parent-teacher communication tool.

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Materials

8 1/2 x 11 Spiral Notebook (min 80 pg) Pen and pencil with eraser Glue sticks/tape/rubber cement Colored pencils or pens Highlighters Scissors

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The Fundamentals of the Notebook

Page Numbers Title Pages Tables of Contents Unit Introduction or Cover page Input vs. Output AND Right vs. Left sides Evaluation using a holistic rubric Regular student & parent feedback.

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Joan was a manufacturer. She lived far from her plant. She saw strange puddles around her plant, but paid no attention.

Why did she die ?

Sample Left Side Activity

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Examples of Left Side processing

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Other Helpful Hints

Keep a skeleton sample. Provide feedback immediately by checking a

few notebooks in first few days of class. Graded work can be added after it is

returned, just have students leave a labeled space.

Occasional open notebook quizzes inspire great notebooks.

Share excellent student work often!

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FAQ’s Do all students have the same pages

or is each student’s different? What if I’m not sure if the work goes

on the left side or right side? How do I include journal prompts? How much of the grade is this? How often do I collect notebooks? How do I include lab work? Where is the W • I • C • R?

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Some Closing Thoughts

“ I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you” Anonymous

"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think." Socrates

“This notebook really helped me learn”…Helix Student