Hi All, I'm considering doing them with my 3rd graders this year. I was wondering what you all thought about them? They seem like they might be a little time consuming, and they will cut into my copy count. Are they worth it?
I teach science and have used them the past 2 years. The key is to stay organized. We complete the table of contents and number our pages together. Yes, it does take some time to cut the pieces out but early finishers can help others. I've also learned that glue sponges work better than stick or wet glue. I create fold-ables when introducing a new topic or vocabulary. They also put their completed center work inside their notebooks, on the correct page. It takes time and lots of modeling on what you want but if my principal asks what we're working on or I want to show parents what we have been doing, I just grab their notebook and can show them. Also if I have a student who is off task or fooling around, this also documents the quality of their work.
I am also teaching third grade this year and want to try interactive notebooks for science. No experience with them yet, but a colleague did share this link with me: http://www.classroomscience.org/taking-the-interactive-science-notebook-plunge.
My advice it to just do one subject for your first year. Or if you choose two, keep one science, social studies, or phonics as they are less tedious. I began with math and wish I had made an example or two the summer prior. I now use them for math, science, social studies, and phonics (grade 2). Bought all of them on TPT.
In addition to how it helps you, in what way does having interactive notebooks really help the second or third grade student?
My students use these notebooks as a reference. When completing stations, projects, or participating in labs - they have the information to refer back to. The work inside the notebook also helps them practice writing, critical thinking skills, and so on.
That's the direction I think I'll go, just doing one this year. And, we only asked parents to buy one notebook (IAs were an afterthought), so I'd be buying 50 out of pocket.
Interactive notebooks, when taught into, help students organize their thoughts, synthesize their thinking and the notebooks offer the chance for students and teachers to interact in a way that's differentiated for each learner.
I used interactive notebooks for high school and it actually CUT DOWN my copy count. You can come up with creative ways to use less paper and the kids keep every single thing in their notebooks. Easy to stay organized!