Interactive notebooks are a method for organizing student work that allows for creative understanding, student choice, and portfolio building. Notebooks follow either a "Hook, Line, Sinker" format with dedicated sections or an "In, Through, Out" format where introduction and processing occur on the same page. Common activities for the student processing side include concept maps, timelines, summaries, and illustrations. While set-up and grading can present challenges, interactive notebooks engage students and help them make connections in their learning.

1. Interactive Notebooks Todd Williamson

2. What are Interactive Notebooks? A method for organizing student work Help generate creative understanding of classroom topics Allow for student choice Allow students to make connections Help maintain a portfolio of yearly work A student-created textbook personalized to learning styles

3. The Basics Notebook activities are completed on a two page spread One side is teacher material, the other side is student processing Students are given a list of processing activities to start the year Self-selected processing

4. Two Major Styles Hook, Line, Sinker Dedicated section for introductory activities (Hooks) Full pages for teacher notes/handouts (Lines) and student work (Sinkers) In, Through, Out Introduction and processing occur on the same page Teacher work on the Through Page Allows comparison of thinking before/after lesson

5. In, Through, Out Example

6. What You’ll Need Notebook – can be a binder or a 3 to 5 subject notebook Colored Pencils – markers bleed through Glue – handouts are glued in so they can’t “fall out”, glue sticks or bottles Highlighters – to encourage review of notes Activities List

7. Common Activities (Right Side) Teacher/Book Notes…bullet, Cornell, concept map, etc Title Pages Pre-reading activities Articles for summarization/extension

8. Sinker Activities These are the typical activities you would use throughout the year Rather than being assigned a particular activity, students select from a list of 20 to 30 Early on, assigning can help build a collection of examples

9. Sinker Activities Comic Strips/Illustrated Timelines Current Event summaries Illustrations Mnemonic Devices Haiku Song Lyrics Advertisements/Magazine Covers

10. Sinker Activities Hero/Wanted Posters Sensory Figures Concept Maps Charts/Graphs Lab Write-ups Verbal, Visual, Vocabulary Section Review Questions

11. Challenges Set-up – overcome with time and planning Choice – students often don’t know how to choose “right” activity Absent students – easiest challenge New Students…second biggest challenge Grading – biggest challenge

12. Missing Work? Triads – Thanks to Theresa Hinkle Two partners in case someone is absent Absent Student Forms Responsible for their absent partners…handouts, class notes upon return, Hooks, etc

13. Grading 100 notebooks are a challenge to grade Collected by homeroom (smaller groups) Dedicated approx. 7 days just to grading Feedback comments were personalized and time-consuming

14. Grading Lots of Rubrics out there Many are not standards-based TOC, Color, Organization, Completion…are these things in your state Standards? Should they be graded? Open-notebook test, use the notebook as a “toolbox”

15. Additional Resources http://www.sharetabs.com/?ians

16. Contact Me Twitter: @twilliamson15 Or through my page at either MSP2 or LearnCentral.org