msp2 interactive notebooks

Interactive NotebooksTodd Williamson

- www.msteacher2.org

What are Interactive Notebooks?

• A method for organizing student work

• Help generate creative understanding of classroom topics

• Allow for student choice

• Allow students to make connections

• Help maintain a portfolio of yearly work

• A student-created textbook personalized to learning styles


The Basics

• Notebook activities are completed on a two page spread

• One side is teacher material, the other side is student processing

• Students are given a list of processing activities to start the year

• Self-selected processing


Two Major Styles

Hook, Line, Sinker

• Dedicated section for introductory activities (Hooks)

• Full pages for teacher notes/handouts (Lines) and student work (Sinkers)

In, Through, Out

• Introduction and processing occur on the same page

• Teacher work on the Through Page

• Allows comparison of thinking before/after lesson


In, Through, Out Example


What You’ll Need

• Notebook – can be a binder or a 3 to 5 subject notebook

• Colored Pencils – markers bleed through

• Glue – handouts are glued in so they can’t “fall out”, glue sticks or bottles

• Highlighters – to encourage review of notes

• Activities List


Common Activities (Right Side)

• Teacher/Book Notes…bullet, Cornell, concept map, etc

• Title Pages

• Pre-reading activities

• Articles for summarization/extension


Sinker Activities

• These are the typical activities you would use throughout the year

• Rather than being assigned a particular activity, students select from a list of 20 to 30

• Early on, assigning can help build a collection of examples


Sinker Activities

• Comic Strips/Illustrated Timelines

• Current Event summaries

• Illustrations

• Mnemonic Devices

• Haiku

• Song Lyrics

• Advertisements/Magazine Covers


Sinker Activities

• Hero/Wanted Posters

• Sensory Figures

• Concept Maps

• Charts/Graphs

• Lab Write-ups

• Verbal, Visual, Vocabulary

• Section Review Questions


Challenges

• Set-up – overcome with time and planning

• Choice – students often don’t know how to choose “right” activity

• Absent students – easiest challenge

• New Students…second biggest challenge

• Grading – biggest challenge


Missing Work?

• Triads – Thanks to Theresa Hinkle

• Two partners in case someone is absent

• Absent Student Forms

• Responsible for their absent partners…handouts, class notes upon return, Hooks, etc


Grading

• 100 notebooks are a challenge to grade

• Collected by homeroom (smaller groups)

• Dedicated approx. 7 days just to grading

• Feedback comments were personalized and time-consuming


Grading

• Lots of Rubrics out there

• Many are not standards-based

• TOC, Color, Organization, Completion…are these things in your state Standards? Should they be graded?

• Open-notebook test, use the notebook as a “toolbox”


Additional Resources

• http://www.sharetabs.com/?ians


Contact Me

• Twitter: @twilliamson15

• Or through my page at either MSP2 or LearnCentral.org

msp2 interactive notebooks

Education