After the Start: Interactive Notebooks - What I've Learned

So we're in about week four of school now and I've been working pretty hard at using interactive notebooks (Math Survival Guides - MSGs) within both my algebra 1 and geometry (both 8th grade) math classes.  I like where they are going and the kids seem to be on board, but I've learned some things and thought I'd pass that information on to you… (pictures at the bottom)

1) Taking time to help the kids get set up and organized: I started off pretty well with having them create their cover page and gluing their small paper for username and passwords.  We even counted out the next 5 pages for a table of contents and I gave them a paper clip on the first day of school to hold those together.  This helped a lot, but I should have had the kids fill out the first few entries for the table on contents instead of leaving it blank initially.  Some of the kids who lost their paper clips forgot that they needed 5 pages for the TOC and proceeded to put some of their foldables there.  We're slowly redoing things and catching them up, but if I'd had them enter a bit more I think we would have avoided it.

2) Don't skip pages: I designated the first four pages (after the TOC) as review pages for geometric formulas.  This would have worked great (and is still okay for some) if I'd taken the time to fill them out prior to starting curriculum work.  However, we jumped right into curriculum, which started on page 5 and that messed up some of the kids who didn't remember to leave the first four pages blank.  Next year:  either put the formula review pages in the back or fill them out prior to the first day of curriculum.

3) Post your titles every day: We try to fill out a two-page spread each class period with the left (odd pages) having foldables, drawings, or diagrams and the right with vocal, notes, and reflections.  I didn't start out by posting the titles on the board, just said them out loud.  I've learned to write the page and title on the board and have them copy it directly to their TOC (color coded hopefully) and to the correct pages.

4) Be very specific: This kind of goes along with #3, but you have to be very specific (especially if you're type A like my) with the kiddos about where you want things to go.  I actually write the page numbers on the copies of the foldables for them and I constantly state where they should go.  As they are cutting and gluing I am always walking around to make sure they are putting things in the right space.

5) INBs (MSG) take time! I initially started by having a warm-up as well as trying to teach and complete the MSG.  What I've found is that I need to incorporate their warm-up into their MSG.  For me, this means their warm-up might be completing vocabulary on the right side (in the "write" section), working some sample problems on the right, or completing their foldable activity or drawing on the left side.  By doing this I'm feeling less rushed for them to complete their MSGs.  Also, its making their MSGs something that they are always referring to and using rather than something we rush to fill out.

6) Neatness counts: This is one place where I'm going to have to decide how to grade.  There are students out there who just don't want to take the effort to make their notebook look nice and I need to decide where the line for neatness will be drawn.  I keep reminding them that neatness is part of their grade.  I'd love some feedback from you on how you deal with this part of INBs.

7) Be flexible! As much as I want to complete a two-page spread in one class period, sometimes we run out of time and I have to let things go.  Some days we'll come back to in the next class and some we end up skipping.  I'm still trying to find the right balance and over the next year am sure I'll come up with adjustments and other strategies to make it work.

8) Stay on top of things: I didn't want to complete the entire MSG over the summer so that I would have the flexibility to make changes.  That being said, I definitely have to take the time to stay several days ahead so that I know what's coming up, how to incorporate it into my lesson, and to have copies made and delivered on time.  I'm also posting pics of each spread into our class webpage, so I need to have those ready to go for the students as well.  Its a work in progress.

I think that so far, with a few tweaks, things are going fine.  I'm learning daily how to make the MSG a useful and engaging tool for the students.  I've had comments from other teachers who've come and seen them that they like both the foldables as well as the reflection pieces all in one place.  I'm going to keep using them and will update more as the year goes on.  I think that I'll have to redo it again next year, but I might create the pages in a binder with page protectors so that as the students take and use them they have less damage.  Any other feedback or suggestions you can provide would be great!

Here are some sample pages we've completed in both classes:

August Currently

I'm linking up with Farley again for the August Currently.  This one caught me by surprise :).  I'm not ready for August…….

I've had a super-productive summer though, so I can't complain.  I've gotten a lot of things prepped for the new school year; I had a great visit with my little sis' and her girls; ALASKA - do I need to say anything else??  Now I'm back at work here and there getting my classroom ready and meeting with my two new 8th grade math teachers.  Really I'm not supposed to go back until August 14th, but there's no way I could wait until then and be ready on time.  I'm having fun browsing through my Pinterest Boards though at all the neat ideas that I've come across.

Listening - So my kiddos new favorite movie is "Pitch Perfect".  I've been doing a lot of driving them back and forth to camps and sports, so they watch it (and I get to listen) over… and over… and over… and over.  It's a good thing I like Ace of Bass.

Loving - I found some fantastic 8 ½ x 11 posters of the Mathematical Practices (you can find a link on a previous post).  They are easy to read, colorful, and fun!  I've already had them printed up on card stock at Staples and laminated at school.  Pictures to come soon…

Thinking - I need to set aside some time for ME before school begins.  I think a trip to B&N is in order to find a good book.  We are taking the kids to a Rapids game tomorrow, so that will be fun too.

Wanting - I started using the Zone eating plan recently.  How come these meals won't just put themselves together when I go into the kitchen.  I actually like the plan, but its tough when I need to make a grocery run.

Needing - To make my kiddos a priority in the next two weeks.  My son would like to go golfing a the local par 3, we need to hit the pool, and we should do some fun cooking experiments.  Just have to put it all on the calendar…

B2S Must Haves

1. Definitely those Mathematical Practices posters.  They are awesome!!
2. I've been trying to find a good way to put supplies on the tables and finally found some small caddies at Mardel in various colors.  Now to stock and label them!
3. More foldables :).  I'm totally into this and created my first one today (posting soon about that too).  If you have any great foldables for 8th grade, algebra 1, or geometry, send me a message or follow me on Pinterest!

Minds on Mathematics: Chapter 10 (Sharing and Recognition)

So… I've finally caught up with my chapter posts since vacation!  Phew…. that was a lot of reading and reflecting, but I've done it.  I really loved this book and know that I'll refer to it over and over again.

Speaking of reflection, that's what this chapter was about.  The author discusses the importance of granting our students time each day to think about what they have learned.

Metacognition - thinking about our thinking - is the last step in a daily math workshop.  It gives the student time to sit back and process the items that they've covered during the class period.  They can think about things they understand, topics that are still unclear, and "a-ha" moment, or state something in a different way to help cement material.  It allows students to take a short, quiet moment to put the period at the end of the class and finalize their thoughts (instead of that mad rush of shoving papers in backpacks, tossing books on the shelf, and running out the door because the bell rang).

For my own classes, I will be utilizing my math journal (Math Survival Guides, MSG) for this purpose.  I will actually be doing this twice during my 111-minute class period.  I am going to have students reflect just prior to the mini lesson in the middle of class and again at the end.  Below is an example of a page I've created for one of our first units:

Notice on the right side the three topics - Write, Reflect, Review.  I am going to have my students complete one set of pages (for example, this is 5/6) each class period.  The left will hold drawings, foldables, and creative items.  The right side will almost always be Write, Reflect, Review (now that I'm typing, maybe I should switch the last two…?).  Write will contain any important information outside of the notes I'd like students to have.  Reflect will be something they think about and can write on prior to our lesson - possibly bringing in some background knowledge or items from the notes they are working on.  Review will be my "end of the day" piece, similar to the exit ticket.  I liked all of the suggestions listed in the book and mine will vary between questions for clarification, to explaining their understanding, to writing about what they'd like me to go over.  Since it will be in their journals, I'll probably collect them on quiz/test days to grade and may also glance at them while walking around during work time.

I do like the idea of reflection, but I have to come up with a system that works for me.  I tried exit slips, but being able to read, grade, and possibly give good feedback became overwhelming.  I'm excited to try the MSG system and see if it works.  I'm hoping this helps get the students in the habit of reflecting at the end of each class period.

Mission: Math

I've come to the conclusion that if I want something to happen, then I just have to write it down.   Right?? I've been reading blog after blog this year, pinning items to my Pinterest account, bookmarked url's on my laptop, and have so many ideas spinning around in my head that I almost don't know where to start.  I'm hoping that this blog will give me some focus and, in the process, allow you to see my train of thought, inspire you to implement some of these ideas, and share some of your own creations.  Here's to hoping…

I currently teach 8th grade math, although really it's not 8th grade math, it's Algebra 1 and Geometry (2 of each class).  My school is on the block schedule and I have a crazy 111 minutes each block to motivate the kids to do math.  That might seem like a lot to those of you with traditional schedules, but I'm always amazed at how quickly the time goes.  I also have a daily 40-minute class ("Bridges") populated with about 25 students who need a little extra help (push?) with mathematics.

You should see the list I have going on my laptop of things I want to implement this year.  It's crazy long and I'm going to have to weed through it soon.  I know that summer is going to fly by way too fast…

My Top 3 Goals for 2013 - 2014

• Implement Interactive Notebooks with foldables (I'm going to call them MSGs - "Math Survival Guide" - sorry for any confusion to those of you military affiliated :))
• Create a "learner-centered" classroom.  I field tested this last year with good results and now want to use it with all classes.  This will be a lot of front-loading and revising this year.
• Incorporate more IB (yes, I'm at an IB school too) daily.

Sooooo…. I think you'll see that I'm a bit of a rambler as I like to think as I type.  I'll stop here for now and post again later with some more summer thoughts, but I hope that you'll enjoy following on my journey!