This ready-to-go digital interactive notebook in Google Slides is an easy, fun, modern way for students to build a personal, meaningful writing portfolio! Great for distance learning and remote/hybrid models alike, this fully customizable digital notebook comes ready-made with an editable master slides template containing:

• A notebook cover slide that students can decorate with images, emojis, or Bitmojis (and that also contains text fields for students to type in their name and class period)
• Color-coded tabs and slides for 3 notebook sections: “Directions,” “Writing Tools,” and “My Writing”  ...In “Present” mode, these tabs actually link to the different sections!
• A directions slide with 7 clear, positively phrased expectations--plus visual cues (emojis) and an instructional screenshot
• A slide with brightly colored post-its where students can link to their favorite writing resources (3 editable/removable examples provided)
• An eye-catching divider slide to indicate the start of the “My Writing” section
• A nicely formatted writing template with text fields for students to complete their writing assignment, type a title, and record the date
• Reminders to keep new writing on top and move old writing down, making it efficient for teachers to read and respond to student work

Aside from being familiar and user-friendly, Google Slides is perfect for an electronic notebook because students can do more than just write--they can insert images and videos, create drawings and shapes, customize the colors and fonts, and even use the scribble tool to annotate! However, because this template was created using a master slides template, you can be assured that students will work within the guidelines provided because they cannot delete or edit the format or directions you provide. Flexible yet structured, this template has so many possibilities!

INSTRUCTIONS AND TIPS FOR GOOGLE CLASSROOM USERS:

1. If you wish to customize the template, my suggestion is to first make a copy of it and then customize the copy. 
2. To edit your copy of the template, open it up and go to “Slide” → “Edit master.” If you’re not familiar with the process of editing a master slides template, it’s pretty intuitive--but there are many online tutorials to walk you through it. 
3. When you have the interactive notebook template as you like it, assign it to students on Google Classroom as “Make a copy for each student.” This gives each student a copy of the template, which then automatically has the student’s name attached to the title. Doing “Make a copy for each student” is also what allows students to actually edit and write in their notebooks. 
4. Instruct students to read the directions in the slides and complete the setup steps. 
5. Provide students with their first writing prompt, and watch them take ownership of their learning! 

TIP: While some teachers may want to assign a new interactive notebook for each unit or quarter/trimester/semester, you may also find that you’d like students to keep the same interactive notebook for the entire year--as a kind of year-long writing portfolio. If this is the case, you might:

• Use one interactive notebook assignment post on Google Classroom for the entire year 
• Attach a summative Google Rubric to that assignment post (to be used when the notebook is submitted at the end of the year)
• Check in on student progress, giving feedback and process grades as desired

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 

• Checkable Checklist Template (Google Sheet)
• Easy, Colorful Lesson Plan Template (Google Slides)
• Electronic Book Sign-Out Sheet (Google Sheets)
• Accommodations Log (Google Sheet)
• Classroom Accommodations Overview Checklist (Google Sheet)

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