Case
Interactive Notebooks

Students in Ms. Love's Kindergarten classroom are required to complete Interactive Notebook entries in three different subject areas. The students are required to work in a Math interactive notebook, a Science interactive Notebook, as well as a English Language Arts notebooks. The students do not fully understand what is expected of them due to their lack of reading skills. How can Ms. Love help her Kindergarten students fully use interactive notebooks without is being something that is only done and be more beneficial?

Posted on: 10/18/14 | Views: 934
Solution #1
Ms. Love can also keep an interactive notebook for an example to the students. I keep an interactive notebook in my classroom, and I keep it out for students to see. In kindergarten they may not necessarily understand yet why they are keeping the notebook, but having either your own example or one from a previous student will help students to model their own notebook after what you are expecting.

I, too, make one along with the students. It helps them see how my version and my expectations will look like. It also will be a reference guide for students that are absent and need to add pages to their notebooks.

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Solution #2
Modeling is so important in Kindergarten! Mrs. Love needs to work slowly in creating the books with them. Allow the book to be more picture vs. word based. Mrs. Love should create the book with them and show them how she uses the books to work on assignments. As the year goes on less modeling will be needed and students can work independently or in pairs to create their notebook. Mrs. Love can also print out labels or titles for things that the Kindergarten students could cut and paste into their notebook for those students who can't read the words yet.

I love that idea. Labeling items is a huge way for them to recognize the word and be able to know what it means also. I would use a lot of pictures when showing them. Also, with technology today many students may have had an opportunity to play on IPAD, iPhone, or even a tablet. So they may be more familiar with the interactive notebook than you think.

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Solution #3
I have used interactive notebooks for math and I value every minute spent using them. First, on the page on the right have them keep notes during instruction. Then, on the left encourage visual aids or examples of concepts through the use of flip books, graphic organizers, or diagrams in color. When testing or giving a quiz, allow students to refer to these books for references. This will help them see the their use. Also, keep data on the effectiveness of the notebooks and get students to evaluate their understanding after using them.
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Solution #4
I use interactive notebooks in fifth grade as well. Even in this grade, I print out things that I want to go in their notebooks. It may be a map or diagram, but it is something that I do not see the point in making them draw from scratch. Give them something that you printed out, but make them add to it with labels, coloring, or a sentence at the bottom giving a summary about what it is. You must model, model, model!
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Solution #5
I question the necessity of an interactive notebook for 3 content areas in kindergarten. The purpose of this is to provide students a working document to reflect in and upon, so it seems complete overkill to require this of students who are just beginning to read and write. A writing journal or lab notebook are likely better ways to maintain a running record of progress.
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