Before I show any more of my individual pages, I wanted to talk about a few reasons I LOVE interactive notebooks! I have only used them for one year and I am sold! I have also talked about my love for them so much that I've convinced a few other teachers to try them next year. YAY!! So without further ado...
This list will probably change from year to year, but these are the five things I was especially smitten with this year. :)
The first thing I love about my notebook--the tabs! This was actually a students' idea mid-year. She mentioned wanting tabs for each unit and other students immediately latched on to the idea. I made a quick table in word, printed on colored cardstock, laminated, and by the next class period we were adding tabs! The students LOVED them! And I do too!! Definitely keeping this idea next year.
The second thing I love about my notebook--the glossary! We constructed a 143-word glossary/index as part of our EOC review. While some students moaned and groaned during the progress, many commented in their end-of-year survey how helpful it will be in the future. I created my own version of a Frayer model to include a space for page numbers. I provided students with the vocabulary words and definitions. I wanted to make sure they had an accurate definition and was more concerned that they could create an example and counterexample for each term. That would tell me much more about their understanding than copying a definition from a book or the internet. They also had a place to record the page number(s) that dealt with that topic in their notebook. While I will probably tweak a couple thing about the glossary/index for next year, overall I love it!
As you can see, different students set up their pages differently. Works for me! As long as it's something that doesn't have to be a certain way, I tell my students "do what makes you happy!" They enjoy the freedom and choice in areas like this!
Alright...we'll 2 is enough for today :) Check back soon for #3-5.
UPDATE: here are #3-5.
If you use Interactive Notebooks, what are some things you absolutely love? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear about them!
