Ms. Andrea Biggs Ms. Roberta Pace Inquiry Classroom Ms. Andrea Biggs Ms. Roberta Pace

We Use the Interactive Notebook A critical step in becoming an effective learner and a successful student is to develop a consistent process for organizing materials. Students need to understand that they need to be highly organized and that they possess these skills.

Learning Process Learning occurs best when a student is able to process and reflect on new information or input. The Interactive notebook helps you to internalize the learning process.

Interactive Science Notebook Overview In this notebook, students use both sides of the notebook (analogous to the right and left brain hemispheres) to take in information (input), do something with the information (filter), and then use the information to produce a product (output).

InterActive Notebook Schematic Input: Lab, Lecture, Text Right Sides of the Notebook Student Output on Left Sides Brain Filters Input & Responds

Interactive Notebooks This style of notebook uses both the right and left brain hemispheres to help students sort, categorize, remember and creatively interact with new information

Students use the right side for input of information such as lectures, video, text etc. The left side is for interacting with the information on the right.

Left Side – Right Side Concept maps Diagrams Flow charts Poems, songs, raps Cartoons Lab analysis and conclusions Lecture Notes Readings Presentations Videos Labs Handouts

Advantages Students take ownership of their work Grading is holistic Students can develop knowledge over time and reflect on their own learning. Parents are invited to look at student work, respond to it and communicate with you. Students have a review for end of term exams

Make It Your Own Notebooks should be graded once a week or so. Don’t give up if you fall behind on the grading It does take time to learn to trust the students. Once you managed it grading takes less than 15 minutes.

Make It Your Own cont’d. Left side activities are important part of the notebook. Be sure to incorporate rigor and writing opportunities for your students It takes a while to get in the habit of left side activities. First select for the class the activity they will do, later on allow students to choose which left side activity the would like to do.