ISN

[David Wallace]

Anybody using interactive student notebooks I would love to hear more about them. Really looking for ideas that can be used on the "left" side of the notebook. Also how you score them.

Anything you have would be great.

Thanks,

Dave

[Brian Thomas]

Here are some ideas for all three components of the notebook along with some hints on assessing them and upkeep.  The section on previews and process would cover ideas that would be "left-side."  You can also see a lesson to set up notebooks at our blog:http://blog.teachtci.com/starting-the-school-year-right-lesson-b 

The Interactive Student Notebook

[Mendy Gannon]

I've used ISNs for years and have a love/hate relationship with them.

 

I love . . .

• that they keep my students and myself organized
• that they are a great vehicle for student choice
• that they "keep me honest" - reminding me to allow processing time for all the content

I hate

• grading them :)

Next year I am going to combine the idea of notebooks with the idea of contracts. I'm going to give them all of their student side options at the beginning of the unit, and they will turn their completed notebook in as a project at the end of the unit. I'm planning on spot checking and conferencing as the unit progresses as scaffolding.

Very interested in hearing how other people address them.

[David Wallace]

My plan for grading them is to hit them at midterms and right before the end of the quarter.

[Liz Becker]

I've used Interactive Notebooks a lot. I love the organization and that they are a portfolio of learning.  And yes, I too hate grading them.  One suggestion that I have is to hit the grading hard at the beginning of the semester.  I teach high school and I've found that if I don't do a lot of grading right out of the gate (letting them know my expectations), kids don't use them correctly (or sometimes at all!).  In pretty much every class where I've used them, I've have at least one student tell me they hated the notebooks at first, but really liked how they helped to keep them organized and to learn material by the time the class was over.  The TCi seminars below look very handy!

[Malissa Gore]

I use ISN's in my 8th grade classroom.  Would love to talk to another social studies teacher who uses them.  I love mind maps for our "right" side pages - especially when the students begin to make connections to world outside of the text/notes.  My other favorite is the Report Card.  Students must assign a grade for the figure or the actions - then give specific feedback/comments for the reasoning behind the grade.  My rubric grades them for the way the notebook is put together (neatness, pages numbered, no loose pages, etc.), completion of the teacher pages (in my class these are left sides), completion of student pages - completion includes showing thinking and reflection, following directions, and effort (thought, color, etc.) 

This is the second year that I've used the notebooks and I'm looking forward to using them again next year, but am very interested to talk to others about their experiences.

 

Malissa

[David Wallace]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apn7rPkl2RjYdF...

 

This is the Rubric I plan on using for my ISN next year. Feel free to look it over and let me know what you think!

[Traci Cook]

I think all teachers want ideas for how to assess notebooks! Keeping on top of the pile of notebooks can be a challenge. TCi is offering two free webinars in September on the Interactive Student Notebook. The first is aimed at teachers who are just getting started and the second is for teachers who want some of those best practices for managing and grading.

Here's the info:

Getting Started with the Interactive Student Notebook

September 7 at 3:30pm Pacific

Register at

https://teachtci.webex.com/teachtci/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=6678342...

 

The Best Ideas for Managing and Evaluating the Interactive Student Notebook

September 21 at 3:30pm Pacific

Register at 

https://teachtci.webex.com/teachtci/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=6618578...