Using Interactive Notebooks to Engage Students

Presented by

S. Nichel Smith

Purpose, Process, Pay-off

Purposeparticipants will learn what an interactive notebook and how to use it to guide instruction

ProcessParticipants will set up their own interactive notebook and brainstorm ways it can be used in the Science classroom

Payoffparticipants will be able to teach engaging lessons that promote higher level thinking skills for all students.

There is More to Teaching Science

Think-Pair-Share

- What do you know about Science Notebooks?

- What would you like to know about Science Notebooks

How do Science Notebooks Benefit Teachers?

• To identify evidence of student learning• To identify students’ misconceptions• To collect evidence of student growth over

time• To develop next steps for planning and

teaching

TUSD Science Resource Center

How do Science Notebooks Benefit

Students1. Notebooks develop/enhance thinking skills2. Notebooks Guide Teacher Instruction3. Notebooks enhance literacy skills4. Notebooks encourage differentiated learning5. Notebooks foster student collaboration and

accountable talk.

Science and ChildrenNov/Dec 2005, p.28-32

Impact of Hands-on Science & Science

Notebooks on Student Achievement

Research shows that student understanding and literacy skills

improve when students do hands-on minds-on science and use science notebooks to make sense of their

science investigations and concepts.

How does it work?

Left – side OutputStudent Centered

Right-side InputTeacher Centered

Information delivered by the teacher.

•inquiry•lecture •movie•book

Student evidence of processed concepts.

•creativity•critical thinking•connection•imaging•comparisons

Science Notebook Supplies

glue sticksscissors

colored pencils

pens & pencils

composition notebook

(No staples or white glue)

NO MARKERS!

I-notebook Components

• Cover

• Authors Page

• Guidelines

• Do’s & Dont’s

• Rubric

• Table of contents

• References (index)

Science Notebook Set-up Directions

1. On the cover, write your name and grade.

2. Starting with the first page, number the first 50 pages.

The numbers should be small and at the top outside corner of every page.

Now, it’s time to take out the glue!

3. On the back of the front cover, glue the I-notebook guidelines.

4. Label the first page the Authors Page

Authors Page

Notebook guidelines

Table of ContentsLabel pages 4-8 as shown below.

Table of Contents Table of Contents4 8

Science Notebook Supplies

glue sticksscissors

colored pencils

pens & pencils

composition notebook

(No staples or white glue)

NO MARKERS!

Additional Helpful Hints

• Provide immediate feedback early on by checking a few notebooks daily

• Have occasional open notebook quizzes to inspire great notebooks

• Perfect Resource for PLC discussions