What is an Interactive Notebook?

I have to admit that I have not read any books, nor done any real research into Interactive Notebooks. After joining Pinterest, and finding myself inspired by so many of other teachers' Pins, I started to notice a theme among a number of Pins I had repinned, and that was Interactive Notebooking. I started to follow a few blogs of teachers who do them, and I downloaded a few freebies on TeachersPayTeachers (TpT). That's all the research I have done. Anyway, I have started my own in my classroom, and though I've done no real research, I will attempt to answer the question, "What is an Interactive Notebook?" based on what I have decided to do with my own.

Our Interactive Notebooks are a 3-ring binder with tabs for Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and ELD. About once to three times a week, I will have students add an entry to their notebooks. The format is very specific. All of the right side pages (odd-numbered) are for Teacher Input - this is where I give them notes, draw diagrams, have them glue in handouts, or make a foldable with them. In my class, I will use this for the Input of a brand new big idea/concept or as a review of a big idea/concept. All of the left side pages (even-numbered) are for Students Input - this is where students write in their own words what they think they will learn, what they already know, what they have learned, proof of what they have learned, and a personal and creative reflection on the lesson. This side (the left side) is why I really wanted to start doing the notebooks. It allows for so much metacognition and for students to be writing a lot (especially in the content areas). In addition to the entries, students keep an updated Table of Contents at the front of each tab, and are constantly aware of the notebook rubric, which I will be using to grade their entries and the entire notebook. The whole notebook thus serves as a place for notes to use as a reference in class and for studying. It also serves as a platform for students to reflect on their own learning and interact with it creatively. It also serves as an ongoing portfolio of student work, learning, and thought. It also serves as a journal of student writing. I love that it does so much! That is why I am doing it! I hope this makes sense. Send me a comment or question if you have one!!