ISN...Interactive Science Notebooks!

Well....my good friend and coworker Toni Polkey and I have really been working a lot this summer coming up with what we hope is a FABULOUS system for using the ISN...Interactive Science Notebook for me and ISSN....Interactive Social Studies Notebook for her. After scouring the internet....reading blogs, pinning ideas, and streamlining the various power points, flip charts, and SMART resources we found....we finally have a system that, when we both implement it in each of our classes, is sure to bring some organizational serenity to our 150+ 6th graders...and us, too!


We really had a time with deciphering the whole RIGHT BRIAN/LEFT BRAIN theory. Some teachers use the notebooks OPPOSITE of what the theory says. So, after researching Roger Sperry and other psychological explanations we decided to go with what was outlined here: 

How Right-Brain vs. Left-Brain Thinking Impacts Learning. 

Our notebooks will focus on the LEFT side being the teacher or LEARNING side and the RIGHT side being the student or REFLECTION side. Of course, the REFLECTION side will be all student created...I really can't wait to see what they do! Toni and I are both SUPER DUPER excited about doing this! 

This POWER POINT outlines how they will use it in my Science class. 

Go ahead and check it out....after all it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!


PS....Toni and I realized that she is more LEFT BRAIN and I am more RIGHT BRAIN...Guess we make up a WHOLE BRAIN when we THINK together! :)

Mouse Mischief

I was just reading on PROTEACHER about the free Microsoft program Mouse Mischief. THIS IS AWESOME! It allows you to link up as many computer mice you can find to turn your power points into interactive presentations. I do have a Promethean board and some actiVotes, but boy this is an AWESOME alternative for those who may not have interactive boards and/or equipment!


Go ahead, check it out....and yes, you know it's SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

Do YOU Have a Theme Song????

I do! At the beginning of every school year and for open house, I present a power point that contains student expectations for the year. My THEME song is Thomas Dolby's 'She Blinded Me With Science'. Of course I don't use the video or the lyric version...just the midi file which can be found among thousands at MIDIDATABASE.COM which is completely free to use by the way. If you don't have a theme song, find one. It will truly set the tone for your year....and will always be that reminder to your students when they hear the tune again in the future! 


I'm including a pdf version of my BEGINNING OF THE YEAR POWER POINT. Please feel free to use it as inspiration to create your own. The fonts may not show up properly, but you will get the idea! 


Here's the video to She Blinded Me With Science. After all, it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!