Richard, J.- 7th History
Page Navigation
-
Interactive Student Notebook
ISN Files -- Download any files you might need to setup your ISN.
All About the Interactive Student Notebook (ISN)Will my ISN look just like everyone else's?
Does it matter what my ISN looks like?
How will I use my ISN to prepare for quizzes and tests?
What do I do if I'm absent or miss an assignment?
My parent/guardian wants to see my ISN. Can I take it home?
-------------------------------------- What is an ISN?
For this class you will be required to complete work in a composition book,
which will be referred to as your Interactive Student Notebook. The
interactive notebook should be an effective tool to help you organize and
retain information on the units we study throughout the year. ISNs allow you
to record information about history in an engaging way. As you learn about
new ideas, you will use several types of writing and innovative graphic
techniques to record them. You will be involved in a process that requires
you to use your critical thinking skills to organize and process
information, thus increasing the likelihood of remembering the information.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- By the time you have completed the first semester you will have a portfolio
of your accomplishments in this class. The notebook can aid you in your
organizational abilities because almost all of the work you do in class will
be recorded or pasted into the pages of your notebook. This can help you in a
variety of ways.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- Will my ISN look just like everyone else's?
No! One of the interesting things about an ISN is your ability to personalize
it. You can be creative in recording some of the information you have
learned.
Individualizing the work we do in class should increase your recall of facts
or ideas.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- Your ISN will be like a portfolio and notebook combined. On the right side of
the notebook, you will include all reading notes, thinking maps, and other
testable material given in class. On the left side of your notebook, you will
"interact" with the material by reflecting on the information learned and
displaying it in a new way of your choosing.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- Does it matter what my ISN looks like?
As you are completing the activities in your notebook it is expected that you
do so with great care. Think of your notebook as a representation of yourself
that will be viewed by the rest of the community. You need to prepare
assignments carefully checking for accuracy, neatness and colorfulness.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- I will grade your ISN after each unit to make sure you are keeping up with
it. I may also give grades for individual assignments in your ISN as needed.
My rubric for grading ISNs is listed below:
VISUAL APPEARANCE / ORGANIZATION (30)
* Includes a complete Table of Contents
* Work is Neat and Organized
* Headings and Dates on all Pages
* Effective Use of Color
QUALITY AND COMPLETENESS (70)
* Notes and right-side work is complete and of high quality
* Left-side work is complete and shows processing of the work done on the
right side
* Evidence of following instructions
* Includes graphic representations of thought
* No missing work (even if you were absent)
EXTRAS (10 -- Only given if ISN is exceptional)
* Obvious evidence of time invested
* Obvious evidence of learning
* Effort and quality of work are exceptional
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- On some days I will have spot checks while you are in class to determine if
you have the expected work completed. At other times you will be required to
turn your notebook in to me. Since the expectation is that you have the
notebook with you every day, if you don’t have your notebook on the day a
grade is given you will not receive full credit.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- How will I use my ISN to prepare for quizzes and tests?
The ISN is very helpful in preparing you for quizzes or tests. Provided you
have kept up with your responsibilities throughout a unit, all of the
information you will need to prepare for a test should be located on a few
pages in your notebook.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- What do I do if I'm absent or miss an assignment?
The ISN will help you make sure you are staying caught up on the assignments
in the class. You will create a Table of Contents at the front of your
notebook which lists the name and page number for each of the activities we
complete. Each of the items listed should be finished and you should find it
located on the page listed in the Table of Contents. Through this method, you
can also find out what work you missed if you were absent from class.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- If you lose your notebook you will be expected to replace it immediately. The
work completed in the unit up to that point would have to be redone. Your
assignment grade is mainly determined by the work completed in the
interactive notebook. To increase your likelihood of success you must have it
with you in class each day.
Back to Top
-------------------------------------- My parent/guardian wants to see my ISN. Can I take it home?
All ISNs will remain in the classroom unless you request to check it out.
Because ALL of your work goes in your ISN, if you lose it you will have to
redo everything we have done on our current unit. Therefore it is very
important that you take good care of your ISN. You will be allowed to check
out your ISN once per week. You will be expected to bring in to class the
following day. Of course, your parent or guardian is welcome to come in to
see your ISN during open house, or during any other time during the school year.
Back to Top
