THE INTERACTIVE STUDENT NOTEBOOK

You will be required to maintain an interactive student notebook in this class. An interactive notebook will allow you to organize the class curriculum in a meaningful way. Instead of the notebook being something used only in the classroom and then becoming a “no man’s land,” it uses a variety of writing and graphic techniques to help you transfer learning from short term memory to long term memory.

Suggested materials:

· An 8-1/2 X 11 spiral notebook with at least 150 pages

· A pen

· Two felt pens of different colors (No Sharpies, Please)

· Two highlighters of different colors

· Scissors with rounded points

· Glue stick

· Ruler

The Left Side of the Notebook:

The left side of the notebook is students directed. This side will be used for you to process information and work out understanding of ideas and information. This will be done using illustrations, diagrams, flow charts, Venn diagram, critical thinking responses, interpretation and reactions to the material, and other creative ideas designed to help you process the key ideas.

The Right Side of the Notebook:

The right side of the notebook is teacher directed. This side will contain class notes, notes from readings, answers to fact based questions (you know, those questions at the end of the chapters). This is the side of the notebook where you will put your Cornell notes.

Techniques:

There are a number of graphic techniques to assist you in your learning. All notes must be taken in BLUE or BLACK INK, and key ideas should be underlined in color or highlighted. Venn diagram show relationships; cartoon sketches show people and events and summarize main ideas; indentations and bullets allow you to rank information in order of importance; arrows show cause and effect relationships. The goals is to help you develop graphic thinking skills and to allow you to develop conceptual thinking rather than memorizing lists of details.

Some Graphic Techniques:

· Boldness of letters

· Use of capital letters for emphasis

· Underlining

· Use of colored ink to underline

· Use of highlighting

· Diagrams

· Flow charts

· Drawings

Additional Notebook Requirements

1. A title page for the notebook –On the right side create a title page containing the name of the course, student name, teacher name, class period, and symbols or pictures that relate to the content of the course.

2. Title page for each unit – It should contain the chapter number(s) and title and symbols or pictures related to the chapter.

3. A table of contents – The table of contents should list the name of the activity and the page number.

4. Numbered pages – Each page of your notebook should be numbered beginning with page number 1 which will be your title page for the notebook. NO PAGES ARE TO BE TORN OUT OF THE SPIRAL NOTEBOOK.

5. Taped or glued in handouts –Handouts are to be glued into the notebook in the date order that they are received.

6. Extra effort – will be rewarded with extra credit. Extra efforts are things such as neatness, underlining, highlighting, and insertion of related article with a short personal response.

Grading of Notebooks:

1. Notebooks are due on their due date. I will not take late work.

2. Notebooks will be graded once a quarter, except for the first quarter when notebooks will be graded twice

3. All notebooks will be given a rubric. You will evaluate and I will evaluate.

4. Periodically, you will have your parents evaluate your notebook using a parent evaluation rubric.

5. Obviously, not all assignments will be completely graded; however all assignments will receive a grade. Some selected assignments will be graded as complete or incomplete. Completed assignments receive 5 points, incomplete assignments will receive zero points

6. This method puts great emphasis on your notebook which insures that a good and complete job will result in passing the class.

7. Work that is poorly done or incomplete will receive a zero!!!

Organization of the Notebook:

1. Number all pages of your notebook beginning on page 1. The numbers should be in the upper right hand corner of the page.

2. Page one will contain the title page mentioned above.

3. Pages 3-10 will be left blank for you to record the daily objectives.

4. Pages 11-15 will be left blank for use as a table of contents.

5. Page 17 will be left blank. At the conclusion of unit 1, you will create a collage page that reflects the unit question.

6. Your first set of notes will begin on page 19.