In February 2025, Howard-Suamico School District 5th–12th grade science teachers came together for professional development made possible by HSEF donors. Today, that learning is already making a difference in classrooms, as science notebooking helps students better understand and retain complex concepts. These student examples highlight how combining visuals, color, and written thinking makes learning more meaningful and personal. 

“Notebooking is really important in science because notes are often more than just a bunch of words,” shared Ben Alexander-Wolf, Bay View science teacher. “We cover so many diagrams, images, and graphs—this idea of sketchnoting fits so well.”

Ben also notes that students (and parents!) are seeing the impact. “They say it’s easier to remember and they like having the freedom to sketch things however they understand the concept.”

Thanks to donor support, HSEF was proud to invest $5,000 in this professional learning opportunity—empowering educators and strengthening classroom experiences for students across HSSD. Thank you to our donors for turning professional development into lasting student impact!