Top benefits of using Interactive Notebooks
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 10, 2024
Today’s post continues the conversation about Interactive Notebooks and the ways these powerful tools have transformed our classroom learning. I have taught in elementary, middle, and high school, and have seen the benefits of using interactive Notebooks in all of my classes.
In my previous posts, I talked about what Interactive Notebooks are. Also, I discussed tips and tricks for getting them up and running in your own classroom. The big question, however, remains: What are the benefits of using Interactive Notebooks in my classroom?
For no-prep Interactive Notebook resources that you can print and use right away in your classroom, click on the button below!
What are the benefits of using Interactive Notebooks?
Over the years, I have consistently seen the benefits of using Interactive Notebooks. I have compiled some of the top reasons I choose to use them below. I hope you will find them helpful! Also, be sure to stick around until the end of this blog post. I have put together a package of FREE resources to help you reap the benefits of using Interactive Notebooks in your classroom!
Interactive Notebooks are powerful educational tools.
One of the key benefits of using Interactive Notebooks is that they enable students to be creative and independent thinkers and writers. They allow students to express their ideas in unique and engaging ways. Through this, they can effectively process information presented in class. As students learn new ideas, they have can use several types of interactive tools to record and process them. The ultimate goal of using Interactive Notebooks is to teach students to be independent thinkers and note takers. Interactive Notebooks teach students about the tools and strategies needed to do this on their own. The activities completed in the notebooks are more than cutesy cut and paste images. Instead, they teach students to interact with content at a high level. It also helps them to make that content their own.
They meet the needs of a variety of learning styles.
Another one of the benefits of using Interactive Notebooks is that they allow visual learners to explore new ways to share ideas. Also, they encourage non-visual learners to be more proficient with graphic approaches. They do this in a fun and non-threatening way. Both types of learners use the notebooks to work on their writing skills. As a result, they learn valuable note taking strategies. Kinesthetic learners enjoy moving around and using their hands to assemble the bits and pieces.
Interested in reading more about individual learning styles? Check out our complete guide to learning styles in the classroom!
Interactive Notebooks help students to systematically organize while they learn.
Students use Interactive Notebooks to organize their thoughts and ideas. A variety of organizational techniques are used to synthesize concepts. As a result, students are able to make sense of what they learn. The notebook assures assignments are kept together in a regular place and in a logical order. Students who struggle with organization often find the notebooks very helpful. Instead of a million random worksheets, students have everything organized in one place. Because of this, organization help is one of the key benefits of using interactive notebooks in the classroom.
Interactive Notebooks become portfolios of individual learning.
These creative notebooks become records of each student’s growth. The teacher, student, and parents can use the notebooks to review a student’s progress. They are clear indicators of growth in writing, illustrating, recording, thinking, and organizing. They are an amazing portfolio to pull out during parent conferences. Gone are the days of gathering up and storing assignments. Now I simply pull out our Interactive Notebooks to show parents what we have been up to. These notebooks are an excellent summary of our learning, and parents always seem to be impressed. Student growth is clearly seen as they progress throughout the school year.
Interactive Notebooks are a work in progress, and allow students to learn from their mistakes.
In my classes, students complete a new notebook at the start of each unit. Throughout the unit, notebooks are collected sporadically, and checked for completion. When improvement is needed, sticky notes with constructive criticism are added. Notebooks are not collected for marks until the very end of a unit. Because of this, students have multiple opportunities to receive feedback. As a result, they can improve their work before receiving a final mark. The quality of student work turned in has significantly improved.
For more information about the importance of learning through failure, check out our guide to building growth mindset!
Interactive Notebooks are valuable study tools.
All of the information needed for each unit is contained inside the Interactive Notebook. Because of this, the notebooks become comprehensive study guides. These are even more effective because they are created by the students themselves. Interactive Notebooks help teach students new ways to study. The activities within the notebooks provide students with visual pictures. This helps students remember content. Having everything complete, organized, and in one place makes studying much easier.
Interactive Notebooks also teach students to be resourceful. When they get stuck in class, or forget how to do something, they don’t just give up. Instead, they can refer back to the information they have previously gathered. They quickly become the “go to” resource for students to go over concepts they have missed or are struggling with. Throughout the course of the year, students are essentially creating their very own textbook. I can guarantee these self-created textbooks are much more meaningful to students.
Interactive Notebooks are fun, hands on, and engaging.
The activities we complete in our notebooks bring with them high levels of student engagement. The kids are actively involved, moving around, and being creative. These hands on activities really give students the opportunity to grasp concepts further. Interactive Notebooks turn the boring necessity of note taking into something kids actually look forward to. No one remembers doing a boring worksheet. However, I can guarantee my students remember actively completing each activity in their notebooks. This engagement really helps them to remember concepts better. Also, the kids actively enjoy using these methods for note taking. As a result, they are much more likely to use them as a study and reference tool.
For tips and tricks to help you boost engagement in your classroom, check out our top tips!
Interactive Notebooks allow students to develop pride and ownership over their work.
According to research on Interactive Notebooks, they are most beneficial when they are used as a learning tool developed by students, for students. Essentially, Interactive Notebooks become records of learning that are physically put together by the students. Because of this, students take ownership, and are proud of the work they put into their notebooks. They spend a lot of time creating them, take care of them, and want to share them with others.
Very rarely have I had a notebook go missing. This remains the case even when I let my students take them home with them.
My students regularly spend their free time coloring them up. As a result, they become beautiful and personal records of their learning. The students are creating something they are proud of. Because of this, they are much more likely to use it as their “go to” resource.
Interactive Notebooks are great for teachers, too!
Using Interactive Notebooks in our classrooms allow us to reflect on our student’s learning styles. They are a great way to analyze student understanding of new concepts. Many of the activities we complete in our Interactive Notebooks are perfect examples of formative assessment. As teachers, we can use the information we have gathered to create, plan, and manage our small group instruction.
Our notebooks show everything we have learned, when we learned it, and how we learned it. As the year goes on, I make notes of areas we struggled and areas that went well. This makes lesson planning easier the following year!
I really hope this post inspires you to give Interactive Notebooks a try in your classroom. They are a surefire way to increase student engagement, organization, and accountability in your classroom.
Do you use Interactive Notebooks in your classroom? If so, I would love to hear about it! Tell me about how you use them by leaving a comment in the comment section! I am always looking for new ideas, and am excited to learn from you!
Looking for some FREE resources to get you started?
Click on the image below for a FREE download featuring a variety of different resources to get you started with Interactive Notebooks. I have included some of my favourite foldables, graphic organizers, and one pagers from some different products available in my TPT store. I hope you enjoy them and can make use of them in your classroom!
Looking for more information on Interactive Notebooks?
Click on the links below to go directly to my previous posts on Interactive Notebooks.
What are the benefits of using Interactive Notebook in the classroom?
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