1. Instructional Supervisor for K-5 Math & K-8 Science
Interactive Journals My
Journal
Instructional Supervisor for K-5 Math & K-8 Science
Science
Notebook

2. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Key Ideas My
Journal
Interactive journaling will make a difference!
Students are actively engaged in thinking and communicating.
Students feel “ownership” because they are creating meaningful knowledge for themselves.

3. What are Interactive Journals?My
Journal
A student thinking tool.
An organizer for inquiry questions and what I learned.
A way to access and process the learning utilizing various modalities (writing, drawing, and discussion).
A place for reorganizing new information in a creative format.
A formative assessment tool for teachers.

4. How are Interactive Journals different from other journals?
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
How are Interactive Journals different from other journals?
Interactive Journals have a “left-side, right-side” orientation to help students record, organize, and process new information. This takes advantage of the way each hemisphere of the brain works!
Interactive Journals are not used just as a storehouse of information. The students are expected to continually reflect and show evidence of this reflection through “left hand” assignments.

5. Why Use Interactive Journals?My
Journal
Improve organization skills
Improve critical thinking skills
Express understanding creatively
Record data
Study for tests
Record progress
Communication

6. Impact of Interactive Journals on Student Achievement
Research shows that student understanding and literacy skills improve when students do hands-on/minds-on activities and use journals to make sense of their learning.

7. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Today you will create an Interactive Journal to record information during the week. Later you can use it as visual model to help your students get started. My
Journal

8. colored pencils or crayons
Journal Supplies
Glue or glue stick
Notebook
Pencils & highlighters
scissors
colored pencils or crayons

9. Why composition books work well
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Why composition books work well
The paper is sturdy and kids are less likely to rip out pages.
No wires to get tangled when you stack them.
Wal-mart/Target-50¢ (school supply season)
Dollar stores–as many as 10 for $1.

10. Right Side? Left Side? What Goes Where?
Student Output
Can use some color
Graphic organizers
Anticipation Guides
Drawings
Responses to questions from the textbook
Responses to questions from video clips
Responses to math problems
Reflections
Exit Slip responses
Right Side
Teacher Input/Content
Pencil/Blue or Black Ink
Notes from the board
Notes from the textbook
Notes from video clips
Vocabulary flip-flap charts
Steps for Solving Math problems
Interactive-technology write-ups
Anchor Charts
Reference Sheets

11. “A Bit More On The Left” Getting Students to Think About Their Learning
REFLECTIONS
Use Guiding Prompts:
What are you curious about?
What would you like to test?
What are the important details to remember?
How does this relate to your life?
What don’t you understand? My
Journal

12. For younger students consider . .
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
For younger students consider . .
Creating a class journal to model the process of journaling using a Big Book or a chart tablet.
Students contribute by finding pictures and telling you what to record.
Blank big books are available at for $1.39 each

13. Getting started - Step 1:
On the cover, write your name and grade/period. You can also draw or paste a picture of something that reminds you of math/science.
My Name
My Grade
My Journal
*Creative Suggestion: Take a picture of each student wearing a lab coat and goggles and paste to the front cover!

19. Inside Cover of Notebook
Step 2:
Glue the “Rules Page” to the inside cover of your notebook.
Inside Cover of Notebook

21. Step 4: Staple several copies of the Table of Contents
printout to the first page.
Table of Contents

22. Step 3:
Number the first 50 pages. Numbers should be small and at the top outside corner of every page. 1 2

25. Back Inside Cover of Notebook
Step 4:
Staple the Student Data Chat Sheet to the Back Inside Cover. Add additional sheets on top each time a data chat occurs.
Back Inside Cover of Notebook
*Suggestion: Have students analyze their data by drawing graphs on the left side of their journals during your data chats.

26. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
What about labs?
Labs go in your notebooks too! Glue the template right onto the page and fold the edges over.

27. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
What about vocabulary?
Interactive journals are a great place to do vocabulary work.
Students store all vocabulary in their journals using foldables.

28. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Vocabulary Foldable
Fold the paper on the right side of the journal in half vertically (hotdog style)
Use scissors to cut the folded half into parts. Make one flap for each word.
Write the vocabulary word on the top of the folded flap.
Write the definition on the inside of the flap.
Draw a picture and/or write a sentence using the word on the back of the flap.

29. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
How do we use our Interactive Journals to Improve Reading Comprehension?
Minimize student copying from board or text by providing photo copies of passages to glue on the right side of journals.
Model how to read the passage while highlighting, underlining, and making notes as the students follow along.

30. Why do we need a Journal Rubric?
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Why do we need a Journal Rubric?
The use of a rubric is necessary to define standards of detail or thoroughness.
When a rubric is well defined, learners know exactly what is expected of them and how they may achieve a top grade.

31. Science Journal Rubric
*Note: Journals should be checked and assigned a grade at the end of each unit. It is suggested that the Journal be 20% of the total grade.

32. Math Journal Rubric
*Note: Journals should be checked and assigned a grade at the end of each unit. It is suggested that the Journal be 20% of the total grade.

33. Record the Scores on the Journal Rules Page
MY JOURNAL GRADES
DATE
SCORE

34. Don’t forget… Descriptive Written Feedback
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Don’t forget… Descriptive Written Feedback
Write Descriptive Feedback in the Interactive Journals every time you review them.
Descriptive Written Feedback gives specific information students can use and asks the student what to do to move their reasoning to the next level.

35. How do I give effective Descriptive Feedback?
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
How do I give effective Descriptive Feedback?
Consider the following questions as you reflect on your current feedback practices:
Do you give clear, concise feedback related to the learning goals?
Do you identify what was done well, and what needs improvement?
Does your feedback include how they can improve?
Are your students expected to act on your feedback?
Do you follow up on the feedback?

36. Work Folders vs. Journals Science
What goes in my Science Student Work Folder?
What goes in my Science Journal?
Essential Labs Instruction page with assigned grade
Completed Lab Templates
Science Journal Rubrics with assigned grade
Science Journal “Rules Page” (attached to inside front cover)
Graded tests and quizzes
Table of Contents page (attached to first page)
Graded projects
Student Data Chat Form (attached to inside back cover)
Select bellwork, classwork & homework
Graphic organizers and foldables
Gizmo write-ups

37. Work Folders vs. Journals Math
What goes in my Math Work Folder?
What goes in my Math Journal?
Math Journal Rubrics with assigned grade
Math Journal “Rules Page” (attached to inside front cover)
Graded tests and quizzes
Table of Contents page (attached to first page)
Graded projects
Student Data Chat Forms (attached to inside back cover)
Select bellwork, classwork & homework
Graphic organizers and foldables
Gizmo write-ups

38. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Sample student work

39. Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel

42. OUTPUT (your interpretation) INPUT (notes from teacher)
Example page:
OUTPUT (your interpretation)
INPUT (notes from teacher)

45. Graphic Organizers Help organize thoughts.
Assist with answering open response questions.

46. Venn Diagram

47. T-chart

48. Net

49. Wheel

50. Tree

51. Let’s Practice a…. Left Hand assignment
Region 10 ESC Presented by: Deborah Brendel
Let’s Practice a…. Left Hand assignment
Turn to your Table of Contents and record your first assignment as Interactive Journal Graphic Organizer. Make sure you record the date, title, and correct page number!
Create a graphic organizer to record the advantages and disadvantages to using a composition notebook for your Interactive Journal. At the bottom of the page, jot down some ideas you are already wanting to remember for when you implement this.

52. We Are READY! My
Journal