Successes and Challenges of Implementing the Interactive Student Notebook by Natacha Scott

For science I have had a big success with the pacing of lessons. By having students create a diagram for each investigation that they do the pace has slowed down and the connections made to previous investigations are more easily referenced.

jtobin4 — 2015-11-19 21:26:37 UTC

jtobin4 — 2015-11-19 21:28:10 UTC

A challenge that I have found has been shifting students from the old way we did our science notebooks to the new way. This new way of left side right side is much more organized than what we were doing before and I have to remind students not to just push forward to blank pages.

2015-11-19 21:39:15 UTC

A challenge that I have found with the Science Interactive Notebook is students are having some problems adjusting to a new way of organization.+

2015-11-19 21:43:36 UTC

One success i have is that i created a version of the interactive notebook for a subject other than Science or Social Studies.

Natacha - BPS History Dept

natachascott23 — 2015-11-19 21:45:19 UTC

If you don't mind, I'd love to know names and schools as you post your successes and challenges!

Fiona- HMS- MS Sci (grade 6)

2015-11-19 21:47:28 UTC

success: Most students seem to enjoy creating a notebook of their own that they can use with a cover they can personalize. Ownership = investment? Hope so!

I've had some success in seeing students write more in their science notebooks, such as predictions and responses. Chris at O'Donnell

2015-11-19 21:48:31 UTC

A challenge Ive had is to get students to refer to their notebooks when answering questions.

2015-11-19 21:51:44 UTC

Fiona- HMS- MS Sci (grade 6)

2015-11-19 21:52:13 UTC

challenge: I still haven't figured out an elegant & efficient way to get to the content and do the notebook justice.

Brooke: grade 6

2015-11-19 22:04:18 UTC

Success: Social Studies: Student work is easily displayed, and can easily be checked for assessment

Challenge: Still working towards what goes on the left side and right side

Vikki- Science- Success

2015-11-19 22:14:12 UTC

I started using the interactive notebook and I have seen that it gives my 3rd graders more a template for their work. They have been able to do more work independently and have written more in their notebooks.

Vikki- Science- Challenge

2015-11-19 22:15:26 UTC

I have had more of a challenge getting my 5th graders to want to use the interactive notebook. They often don't want to draw and when told they can write their ideas they want to know how many sentences they have to have. I think part of that is the culture in my school in 5th grade classrooms. I will continue to use the interactive notebook with them and hope they start understanding the purpose more.

Kem - Sumner Elem 3rd/4th gr SLD

2015-11-19 22:24:58 UTC

Success - the students enjoy creating their own Science notebook because they engage in various tasks such as writing, reading, drawing, coloring, working in groups, experimenting and observing

Angela- Science K-5

2015-11-19 22:25:29 UTC

Success: I see students in grades 3-5 beginning to use their notebooks more as a reference tool instead of just an archive when answering new questions posed in the classroom.

Kem - Sumner Elem 3rd/4th gr SLD

2015-11-19 22:26:54 UTC

Challenge - the lesson takes a longer time to complete since the format is new/different from what the students are used to doing

Angela- Science K-5

2015-11-19 22:27:11 UTC

Challenge: I have found it challenging to shift from our old catch-all style of notebooking to the new left-side/right-side style of science notebooking. My goal is to formally introduce this new format when we transition to new units of study the first week of December.

Madalyn - Grade 1

2015-11-19 23:03:49 UTC

A success is that all of the 1st graders are writing and feel ing successful with the tasks.

Madalyn -Grade 1

2015-11-19 23:08:16 UTC

A challenge has been that I need to create the text (right page) that is not too complicated and supports the left page. I must remember that it is a quick write and then a deeper response to the work. The Big Question needs to be manageable to the space of a two page entry.

Brianna - Social Studies and Science Gr.1

2015-11-20 21:15:43 UTC

A challenge is that I need primary source materials that my students can access independently. Also, the timing for completing a journal entry is difficult for me at this time. Ashley McKenzie is great at using the Science notebook with my kids, however, and I love watching them take charge of their learning in this way.

Ashley- Science K-5

amckenzie5 — 2015-11-23 12:31:38 UTC

Success- My upper grade students really enjoy being able to get creative for the Big Question side of the notebook. I use the ABCDs...but add in an E for evidence as that is our school-wide goal for checking to make sure that it is complete. I am finding that some students are able to show that they are actually getting concepts whereas before I was unsure that they were!

Ashley- Science K-5

amckenzie5 — 2015-11-23 12:34:39 UTC

Challenge- I am finding it more difficult to use the interactive notebook with my younger students (k-1). The reason for this is mainly because I use the pre-printed pages and create a notebook with that. Over the Winter break I hope to create new notebooks for these grades to make them more interactive.

Tanya -Grade 5 - S.S.

2015-11-25 02:41:58 UTC

A success is that the children have become comfortable with the set up and they are taking pride in their work since it is an on going assessment.

Paulina- Science 5th/6th

2015-11-25 02:44:01 UTC

A success is that students are very excited about their science notebooks and love using (and decorating) them!

A challenge is the spacing and page numbering of the notebooks given the variety of student handwriting.

Tanya -Grade 5 -S.S.

2015-11-25 02:44:55 UTC

A challenge is following up with the processing or even the activities. I am not sure how often I should be checking their notebooks. I have been using the S.S. lesson plans on line to some degree and the following lesson plans on the website are "coming soon" which will make planning more challenging too.

Brian-5th Grade

2015-11-29 16:19:20 UTC

A challenge that I have been having is changing from our old notebook format to the new format. Time is also an issue. I only have two class periods a week for both Science and Social Studies. It seems that every content area (Math,Reading,Writing etc.) has their own special way to set up their notebooks. My students are constantly getting confused with the different formats.