Math Notebooks or Interactive Math Notebooks

Abstract Math Notebooks are a tool to strengthen student learning of curriculum through increased student participation.  They are used in class daily to help the student learn and keep track of their learning.  This style of notebook uses both the right and left-brain hemispheres to help sort, categorize and be creative with the newly attained knowledge.  The right side of the spiral notebook is for writing down information given by the teacher (notes, vocabulary, forumulas, examples, etc).  The left side of the spiral shows the understanding and references the information from the right side through self worked examples, reflections, drawings/figures, completed assignments, etc.). The benefits for the student are endless because the students are more organized and can easily access their work and notes. 

Why Math Notebooks?  I was tired of students misplacing and/or not utilizing their notes, losing their papers, and not remembering the previously learned concepts.

What are Math Notebooks? Originated from History Alive's "Interactive Student Notebook" A personalized textbook that the students create, and  A working portfolio -- all of their notes, classwork, etc. -- in one convenient spot A way for teachers to easily enforce student responsibility Absent Students Special Education Students and ELL Students Tutorials Parent/Teacher conferences

Math Notebook Supplies Composition book (preferably graph or college ruled) Highlighters (at least four different kinds) Glue Sticks (preferably Elmer's) Markers (a set of 8 Crayola markers) Scissors

What makes this notebook so special? Right side pages are used to write down learn-able content from the class notes, discussion and textbook's notes. You may require Cornell notes. Left hand side pages are used to Do the Do-Now (warm up) Independent Practice problems Graphic Organizers (Frayer models, Foldables, Venn ...) Glue Assignments Glue Quiz/Test Corrections

Left Side     20             Right Side      21  

Pros "Cons" Everyone has the same notes at the same place. Student engagement, responsibility,and organization Students will use the notes. Helpful for student review Used for future classes Quick Assessment tool Every year you don't have to re-invent the wheel For the teacher, it is a lot of work and mistakes when setting it up. Some students lose their notebook or people steal them When new students enter the class. Damaged notebooks

Tips/Tricks Each page of the notebook is numbered in marker during the first week of school. Page 1: Title page; 2: Rubric;  3-7: Table of Contents;  8-9: Formula Charts;  10-11: State Objectives; 12-13 Course Policies/Syllabus Have a section for State Standardized Objectives Activities Tabs can be used to identify Units; Precut assignments to make it easier to glue Tests can be glued into the notebook on an odd page, and its facing even page used for test corrections. Each time they start on a page, have them list the date in the top right hand corner, and the learning objective on the first line. When students finish their work early or you have some "free" time, have the students update their table of contents or review their notes by adding color, highlighting, underlining, boxing the important things.

If you want more information http://interactive-notebooks.wikispaces.com/