I received an email from a rep from Bedford, Freeman, & Worth Publishing (http://www.bfwpub.com/highschool) with their latest textbooks and a lab notebook that has carbonless copies. I was intrigued since I’ve not been happy with my use of notebooks (see my post on Pulley Lab). I really like the idea of the students using lab notebooks, and I do more than enough experiments to make it worth keeping one, but carrying 100 of them home to grade … it just doesn’t happen.
To make my life easier, I’ve created a bunch of mini-labs where they get a handout, answer questions and hand it in by the next day. This has worked well from a grading point of view, but the students haven’t had to keep a lab notebook anymore, and so I’ve lost the college-level work I’m aiming for.
I think these carbonless copy notebooks may be the answer. We are going to try them next year. The students will be required to purchase them at the school store. They are not inexpensive, the cost to the school is between $9 and $11 each.
Anyone using these?
You can find the link for the publisher here: http://www.haydenmcneilspecialtyproducts.com/products/physical-science.html
I showed my classes the lab notebooks for next year. The students all thought they were cool and complained that next year’s classes are getting better stuff than them. Kids say the dumbest things. I’m just thrilled about not carting home 100 notebooks.
Is it wrong to be excited about next year when there is only about a week of school left and the whole summer of camp?
Comment by Scott — June 3, 2009 @ 9:05 pm |
I used them for several years when I taught Introductory Physical Science (IPS) in middle school. Worked like a charm. My wife would give one to a student helper to take notes for handicapped students. The student took notes as usual and gave the copy to the handicapped student
Comment by Tommy Franklin — July 20, 2009 @ 12:52 pm |
Mr. Frankilin,
I would love to hear what your standards were for the IPS lab notebook. Did you create a rubric for the lab notebook or some other explanation for your students and if so, would you be willing to share it?
Comment by Sharon Becker — September 9, 2009 @ 2:44 pm |