interactive notebook Archives - A Lesson Plan for Teachers

How to Set Up an Interactive Notebook

Posted on August 20, 2018July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

The first step to understanding how to set up an Interactive Notebook is understanding how an IN works within an Interactive Classroom. Interactive Notebooks aren't designed to be the end-all-be-all for lesson planning, note-taking, student engagement, and formative assessment. Instead, the...Read More

How I Use Highlighters in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on May 24, 2017July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Color is important! In my classroom, we color coded everything. And to do that, highlighters became a very important tool! I'm sure your students already use highlighters in your classes, but do they use them in the most effective ways? ...Read More

The Many Uses for Index Cards

Posted on May 1, 2017July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

In the old days, Index Cards were one of the most valuable resources for a research-based classroom. But with the introduction of Interactive Notebooks and then technology tools, the index card became a thing of the past. That shouldn't be...Read More

The Power of the Gel Pen

Posted on April 18, 2017July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

The power of the pen has definitely changed since I started teaching many years ago. Well, actually it is the pen itself that has changed. We've gone from the reliable wooden pencil that required sharpening every so often to the...Read More

Getting Things Started in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on September 14, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

One of the greatest challenges for secondary teachers is Getting Class Started on time. When working with teens, their attention is often on anything but your classroom objectives, so getting them started is key to keeping them on track! I've...Read More

Quick Thought Thursday: Beyond the Interactive Notebook

Posted on March 12, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Over this past weekend, I attended and exhibited at a middle school conference where I had the opportunity to talk with new and student teachers about their experiences in the classroom. What I heard was so disappointing, and it all...Read More

Monday Mapping: Defining Interactive Notebooks

Posted on March 9, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

While I have used an Interactive Notebook structure in my classes for over fifteen years, the IN method has become all the rage in every subject area over the past few years. Teachers love to provide inserts to flip, quick...Read More

Monday Mapping: Planning the Previews

Posted on January 26, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

The older I get, the less I am interested in reading things I do not consider relevant to my life. I LOVE reading, but I do not like wasting my time, and much of what is produced these days is...Read More

Seeing the Big Picture: Helping Students Visualize Multiple Perspectives

Posted on October 20, 2014July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Teaching from a textbook or singular source can often leave the impression on our students that history is one-sided. After years of this indoctrination to history, our students are blind to the truth about history. It becomes a battle at...Read More

Grading in the Interactive Social Studies Classroom

Posted on September 4, 2014September 6, 2023 by Michele Luck

The idea of having an interactive classroom fills teachers' minds with many different thoughts and visions: Thirty to forty young minds all engaged and active in critical thinking. Students discussing content and enjoying the learning process. Thoughtful debate and content-based...Read More