An ISN is a student notebook. In our classroom, we use a composition-sized notebook as our ISN. SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS ARE NOT ALLOWED because they tend to get very "beat-up" by the end of the year and because with close to 200 students, it is important to me that notebook sizes be standardized.
Note taking becomes an active process. These notebooks invite students to become engaged in their learning. Students will spend some time recording ideas from a lecture or the board, but most of their time will be spent doing something with ideas, like putting them into their own words, searching for implication or assumptions, transforming words into visuals, finding the main point of a political cartoon, etc.
Students use both their visual and linguistic intelligences.
Notebooks become a portfolio on individual learning. These personal, creative notebooks become a record of each student’s growth. The teacher, students, and even parents can review a student’s progress in writing, illustrating, recording, thinking, and organization skills.
All About Me
The inside cover of your notebook and the first page are dedicated to you!
Add your name, date and period first.
Then, tell me something about yourself, like your likes and dislikes or favorite things. Add some pictures or illustrations. It is entirely up to you, but please put some time and effort into this page.
UNITS: Tab Page, Standards, Table of Contents & Numbering
Every unit has a Tab Page and Tab. For the tab, color, cut out and attach the appropriate tab on a right-side page. Every Title Page should have the Unit Number, Title, and at least one color picture. The first Tab Page is for Unit 1 - Resources. It goes on the second right-side page in your notebook.
6th Grade Notebook Tabs
7th Grade Notebook Tabs
Set up the page numbering for each unit as we go. I use a different numbering system for each unit. For example, the Resources Unit is R1, R2, R3, R4, etc. Number each page in the outside upper corner starting with the page right after the Tab Page. This is R1.
Page 1 of each unit is for the State Standards. The Resources unit is for resources for the year like maps, etc. so there are no standards.
Page 2 of each unit is for the Table of Contents. As we do assignments, you can write them in. You don't need to write down every singe page. For example, if you take three pages of notes on Rome, just write "Rome notes" and the page they start on. Use the following columns:
Date:Assignment/Activity: Page:
As we start each new unit, a new table of contents and new number system will be created.
Title and Date Each Page
Every single page should be numbered, titled, and dated. Even if you are gluing in a worksheet with a title, you STILL need to write a title on that page and write the date you did it.
As you add pages, add them and the date you completed them, to your TOC.
Fold 8 1/2 x 11" paper in half and glue in your notebook so it folds out. If papers are stapled together, you can leave them stapled and glue in the whole packet. If there is writing on the back, you can run a small strip of glue across the top margin and just glue down that piece, or you can use tape.
For 8 1/2 x 14" (legal-sized) paper, fold it in thirds so it folds out. Glue in your notebook.
Rubric
At the end of each unit, I will use a rubric to score your progress. You will be graded for content, neatness, and organization.
EVEN IF YOU DID NOT COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME, THEY ALL NEED TO BE PRESENT AND COMPLETE WHEN NOTEBOOKS ARE CORRECTED.
IF YOU WERE ABSENT FOR NOTES OR ASSIGNMENTS, YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THEM IN YOUR NOTEBOOK. YOU CAN GET HANDOUTS FROM ME, BUT CLASS NOTES WILL NEED TO BE EITHER BORROWED AND COPIED FROM A CLASSMATE or YOU CAN SCHEDULE AN OUT-OF-CLASS TIME TO BORROW MY NOTEBOOK TO COPY WHAT YOU NEED.