Students will maintain an interactive notebook which is a notebook that contains all information that is given in the lesson. Hand outs are glued into the book and pages are based on the Cornell note taking strategy, which uses a two column page where questions are on the left and notes are on the right. An objective for the day is always at the top. This will always be on the right side of the notebook. Depending on the activity, the teacher will give questions and the students will answer those questions on the note side, or the teacher will give notes and the students will generate questions based on the notes. At the end of the page, students will summarize the notes and questions of that day. All pages are numbered and a Table of Contents will reflect the new page entries daily. Students will be introduced to new vocabulary terms and a foldable activity called a matchbook will be assigned.
A matchbook foldable is a 3×6 inch piece of colored construction paper that will be given for each new vocabulary term. Students will fold almost half-way down leaving a lip to be folded up resembling a matchbook. On the front, a picture is drawn depicting the vocabulary term. The inside top half will have the phonetic spelling. The bottom half will have the meaning of the term, in the students own words, and on the flap will appear the term itself. This can be given as a homework assignment. These matchbooks will be glued to the left side of the notebook opposite to the questions and notes of the day.
Students will also take part in a Socratic seminar. A Socratic seminar is a method of teaching developed by Socrates. He engaged his students in intellectual discussion by responding to questions with questions, instead of answers. This method encouraged the students to think for themselves rather than being told what to think.
Prior to the Socratic seminar, students are given a reading assignment from the in literature on history, health, philosophy, art or music to examine. After the students have read the text, open-ended questions are asked. The open-ended questions allow the students to think critically, analyze multiple meanings in text, and express ideas with clarity and confidence.
Participants in the Socratic seminar are expected to respond to one another in a respectful manner without bias or prejudice. They are also expected to listen carefully without interrupting. They must make direct eye contact with others and must use each other's names.
