Ep 92 // Getting Started with Interactive Notebooks
Inside This Week’s Episode: — Want to start using interactive notebooks, but not sure where to start? This episode takes you through the process from the ground up so you can successfully implement interactive notebooks in the elementary classroom.
So, you want to try interactive notebooks, eh?
Of course you do! They’re super cool and students love them.
But, they aren’t just something you can start without putting a little thought into it.
In fact, launching into using interactive notebooks with your students without thinking through the process from start to finish could leave you in puddles of glue and up to your elbows in paper scraps.
And no one has time for that!
So, come along with me in this episode. I’ll be sure to help set you up for success so that interactive notebooks can provide meaningful and authentic learning experiences for your students.
Interactive Notebooks, here we come!
Here’s a Snapshot:
Interactive notebooks come in all shapes and sizes, but essentially, interactive notebooks are spiral or composition notebooks where students can organize their notes. We’ll talk about what interactive notebooks might look like in your classroom.
Interactive notebooks don’t require a lot of complicated materials, you will need a few essentials on hand. I’ll give you the list of exactly what you need to get started.
As with anything in teaching, we must start with the standards and the scope and sequence/curriculum map. Each page within your interactive notebooks should aim to cover your standards and evaluate your students understanding of those standards.
Take time to teach (and reteach) and practice (and practice some more...) not just the information going into your interactive notebooks, but how to actually use their interactive notebooks. Spending ample time at the start of the year (or whenever you begin using interactive notebooks with your students) setting up routines and procedures for using their interactive notebooks. I’ll share with you exactly what routines and procedures you should be covering!
When you're ready to get started, there are a few things you can do right away with your students to set them up for success all year. Learn the MOST IMPORTANT steps to getting your students started with interactive notebooks.
As you get started with interactive notebooks, you’ll no doubt find what works best for you and your students. However, I’m sharing some tried and true teacher hacks that everyone will LOVE to help you seamlessly implement interactive notebooks in your class.
Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode
POST: Setting Up Classroom Routines and Procedures
RESOURCES: Interactive Notebooks
Grab my FREE Interactive Notebook Rubric below:
FREE rubric
Use interactive notebooks with your students?
This simple kid-friendly rubric can be used with any interactive notebook to help assess your students.
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