Notebooks are essential in a science classroom for many different reasons indicated by the article written by Gilbert and Kotlema. The most important reason to implement science notebooks into your classroom is that they allow students to construct his/her conceptual understandings. Teachers can use science notebooks in their classroom to allow students to write down their thoughts and questions about the related science topics. This is especially useful when doing investigations. Students can write down their observations and predictions.
Another important reason teachers should utilize notebooks is because they support differentiated learning. In the article they used an example of a student that doesn’t communicate well using written words; with the use of a notebook that student can create a graph or draw a picture. They also use the example of a student that doesn’t speak english as their first language- that student could write in the language they are comfortable using. The use of a science notebook, encourages and empowers student to understand their own thinking.
Going along with this, science notebooks provide the teacher with a guide to instruction. If there is a common trend in the classroom that students don’t know how to create graphs- the teacher could see this and provide a lesson based on how to create charts and graphs. The teacher could also take advantage of the questions and wonders that students have to guide the next instruction.
Lastly, the article talked about science notebooks as a way to enhance literacy skills and foster teacher collaboration. I think that the use of science notebooks allows for an informal way to assess students. You will learn so much about what a student understands and doesn’t from the proper use of a science notebook. I be sure to utilize all of the feedback given in this article in my future classroom.
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