Interactive Notebooks and Portfolios What? Why? How?

Agenda: Hour 1 Introduction Rationale Specifics: Mandatory Components Specifics: Give them that something extra Logistics

Interactive Notebooks Rationale: 1. Interactive Notebooks provide a structured, organized way for students to –track their learning in class –present and reflect on mastery of the standards 2. It is a component of our school plan –30 members of our faculty chose to include this into the plan because they saw the need for our students to engage in organized learning, reflection, and feedback

Interactive Notebooks Supported by the LAUSD Teaching and Learning Framework 2B: Establishing a Culture for Learning – Importance of the Content: 1.Students demonstrate throughout their active participation, curiosity, and taking initiative that they value the content’s importance. Teacher and students link content to real world applications, essential questions and long range goals. Teacher and students make content culturally relevant and applicable to students’ lives.

Interactive Notebooks Supported by the LAUSD Teaching and Learning Framework 3D: Using Assessment in Instruction to Advance Student Learning 3: Feedback to Students: Teacher’s feedback to students is timely, frequent, relevant, accurate, and tied to the instructional outcome. Students make use of the feedback to revise and improve their work. Students work collaboratively with peers to provide actionable feedback.

But Wait! Don’t we already have portfolios?

Interactive Student Notebook vs. The Portfolio

Think of the Interactive Notebook as …the Organized Keeper of Knowledge and Learning.

Interactive Notebook Interactive Notebook: The Keeper of Knowledge A place to keep crucial –Notes and practice –Responses to reading –Ideas from each unit –Reflections from learning

Think of the Portfolio as … a showcase

The Portfolio The place to showcase –Written assignments and culminating tasks along with drafts, revisions and rubrics –Reflections on those assignments –Data from class performance (grades, AR, behavior, attendance), goals and reflections

Additional Rationale Interactive Notebooks help students to systematically organize what they learn Interactive Notebooks are part of the portfolio of individual learning Note-taking becomes an active process Students use visual, linguistic intelligences Students have additional opportunities to produce work of a higher level on the Bloom’s taxonomy

What it Looks Like A spiral bound, college ruled notebook Should be organized –Table of Contents –Numbered pages –Divided into sections for each unit –Headings for each entry –Should be organized in such a way that absent students can easily see what they missed and can catch up.

Sample Personalized Cover Pages

Sample Table of Contents

Unit Cover Pages

Sample Contents Note-taking Graphic Organizers

Sample Contents Types of Writing Practice

Sample Contents Foldables

Interactive Notebook Non-negotiable 120 page spiral notebook with college rule paper, pocket dividers and a plastic cover Consistent organization: T of C, Four Units, numbered pages, Clear Headings Instructional Input/ Student Processing (Notes + practice, quick writes, etc.) Student reflections Regular instructor feedback + grade A rubric

Interactive Notebooks May Contain Creative output: –Personalized unit pages –Poetic responses –Illustrated notes –Literary letters –Graphic organizers –Creative literary responses –Foldables –Personalized, colorful additions to notes

Additional Features Assignments may be glued in (tests, formal responses, etc.) Pockets may be used for syllabus, homework logs, tests, quizzes, or other assignments, goal setting, quick reference guides (frequently misspelled words, common words to avoid, etc.) Rubric and/or Notebook Guidelines should be glued somewhere in front

Additional Factors to Consider Interactive Notebooks require lesson planning ahead of time (Ideally – you will want to keep it two weeks ahead of schedule) They will help to keep you current and organized in grading Our students will take them as seriously as we do

Assessment Options Rubrics are non- negotiable. Interactive Notebooks are only effective in classes where rubrics are established and adhered to.

Assessment Options Ms. Infante scores each page 5 points. She deducts for missing assignments. She scores once a month outside of class. She takes about one hour per class to score. Within that one month, there are approximately 15 entries. She grades everything – including the unit cover pages

Assessment Options Ms. Manning scores in class in a student conference setting. She scores each page 10 points, except for some of the glue- ins which are graded separately. She is very specific about the criteria for each assignment (even the cover pages). Some of the things in the notebook she doesn’t grade (notes for example) However, she gives an overall grade for the notebook.

Assessment Options Ms. Flores uses a rubric, along with norms. Both are located in the students’ Interactive Notebook. She grades the overall notebook at least once a month. The first time she grades them, she has a mini-conference with each student. Over the year, they work into peer conferences: students self evaluate notebooks and then evaluate their partner’s. She also conducts surprise notebook checks. In addition, she grades many of the assignments individually.

Assessment Options Grade assignments as you go (glue-ins). Be very detailed about what you want them to look like as you go along. Spot check weekly and provide feedback Formal check monthly Grade individual assignments, and give a monthly notebook grade (with general rubric)

Agenda: Hour 2 Time for Planning: Contents for the first days of class. Decide how and when you will assess.