Interactive Notebook Guidelines

What is an interactive notebook and why are we using them? An interactive student notebook is a notebook that allows students to take control of their own learning. It will be our primary method for conducting daily work in this class. The purpose of the interactive notebook is to engage students in learning, and make it an active process, while at the same time teaching them valuable organizational skills. These notebooks are valuable tools because they give students choices about how they want to learn the material, as well as demonstrate what theyve learned. The setup of the notebook allows students to make the material their own, and learn in ways that make sense to them. The interactive notebook is a portfolio of student work that shows progress throughout the year. They allow students to use both their visual and linguistic intelligences. They are also a great tool to use when studying for quizzes and tests. What pages should be included in my notebook? The contents of your notebook will change throughout the year, but the following contents should be in your notebook at all times.
Title Page Geography Syllabus If Found Sticker 5 Themes of Geography Interactive Notebook Guidelines Table of Contents Interactive Notebook Rubric 6x9 Envelope Grade Sheet Cover Page, Bell Ringers & Vocabulary for each unit

How should my notebook be organized? Your notebook will be organized into a Left Side and a Right Side. Left Side -Teacher input & classroom materials Unit pages Class, reading, & discussion notes Handouts Book work & Assignments Right Side -Student output/reflection/response A reorganization of new information in creative formats to help you better learn the material Expresses opinions and feelings & explores connections Demonstrates what youve learned

What are some examples of Right Side activities? Right side activities are basically only limited by your imagination. They can be anything from drawings to songs, advertisements to journals, and everything in between. A giant notebook of right side ideas will be kept in the classroom. Here are a few more examples though: Diagrams, charts, cartoons, comic strips, illustrated definitions, foldables, letters, post cards, essays, poems, eulogies, book covers, etc. How will I know which right side activities I should be doing? Most of the time, you will have some guidance when choosing a ride side activity. As the year goes on,however, you will be given more choices about your right side activities.

What are the rules for using interactive notebooks? ***************You must have your notebook in class every single day!*************** If you are unclear about anything regarding the interactive notebook, just ask! For each left side activity, you must have a right side activity that you have created on your own. It is your responsibility to keep up with your notebook, even for those days that you miss. Each page should have a date, page #, and title. Number all pages on the bottom outside corner.

Its essential that we all stay on the same page. If you need more than one piece of paper for an activity, you should tape the second sheet onto the first paper so that it is not sticking out of the notebook. Fill in the Table of Contents as we go. Dont wait until the end of the unit. Never remove any pages from your notebook. If a page begins to rip, secure it immediately before it gets out of hand. Handouts, foldables, and other papers should be secured to your notebook with glue or tape or placed in your 6x9 envelope. Do not use staples in your interactive notebook. There should be no loose papers! Do not use markers, crayons, or anything that will bleed through the pages in your notebook. Be colorful and love your notebook!

How will my notebook be graded? See the Interactive Notebook Rubric. How long should it take to work on my notebook? This will vary student by student. Since I prefer that the notebooks stay in the classroom, time will be set aside to work on right side activities throughout each unit. Given the level of quality that I expect for each right side activity, I estimate that it will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete a right side. Occasionally, a student might require extra time. If this is the case, the student may take his/her notebook home. Please remember that you are responsible for bringing your notebook back. What happens if I am absent and miss a notebook activity? If you are absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain notebook assignments from either a classmate or the teacher. Look for any handouts you may have missed in the Make Up Folders. What happens if I lose my notebook? Every effort will be made to keep the notebooks in the classroom at all times. This will cut down on situations where students show up to class without notebooks. Any notebooks that leave the classroom will become the full responsibility of the student. If you lose your notebook, you should notify the teacher immediately! You will be responsible for re-doing ALL notes and assignments for the current unit. Share these guidelines with a parent/guardian and then sign below. Paste these guidelines on the designated pages in your Interactive Notebook because they will become part of your grade.
Student Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _____________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________________

Date: _____________