Interactive Notebooks
Notebooks used to be places that students wrote occasional notes, stuffed handouts, and perhaps referred to before a test when all other options failed. Interactive notebooks promote organization, engage students, and encourage students (YOU!) to process information, combine words and visuals, become a working portfolio, and demonstrate critical thinking.
Materials
- 8.5 / 11 spiral notebook (one that an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper can fit into without any trimming)
- writing instruments (pencil, pen, colored pencils)
- scissors glue stick or tape
Page Set-Up
Left Page–OutputStudent Involvement |
Right Page–InputTeacher Involvement |
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The Process
- Leave several pages at the beginning of the notebook for the table of contents.
- Number the pages --- odd numbers on the right and even numbers on the left. Students should never continue a right-side page onto the back but should rather staple, tape, or glue on an extra sheet to extend a page.
- Keep a pocket on the back cover for grading sheets.
- Keep a master Table of Contents with dates and points possible. It is imperative that all students are on the same page for the same work.
- If a student is absent, s/he must get the right-side input from the teacher or another student.