Do you want to start using interactive notebooks, but don’t know where to start? I broke down the way that I use interactive notebooks in my classroom below. I discuss supplies needed, storage, and how I go about printing/copying the papers.

• Notebook

• Regular composition book OR spiral notebook
• I usually double up on subjects and use tabs as dividers (science/social studies in one book, and reading/math in another)

• Scissors

• Glue

• Bottled or stick

• Book bins

• My students stored anything writing related in here. They put their Vocabulary Notebooks and Writers’ Notebooks in here, along with their independent reading book.

• Plastic bins grouped by table/desk configurations

• Plastic drawers

• I have not personally used these in my classroom, but many teacher bloggers have with much success.

• Leave the scraps at their seat

• Teach the students that after the cut their scrap, to immediately ball the scrap up (this saves space on their desk and minimizes clutter.
• Then, one student at the end of the class period (I usually pick whoever finishes cutting first) walks around with the recycling bin and collects the trash. That is only one student up and walking around the whole time. 

• Trash bin

• Place a small bucket in the middle of each students’ table/desk setup. They can put all the scraps inside of there. At the end of the block, one student can be responsible for recycling all the paper scraps.

My interactive notebooks have a three level differentiation system. There is a filled-in template/answer key, fill-in-the-blank template, and blank template. It is up to you what you would like to use. All students could get the same one, or you could give students different ones depending on their ability level, or if they need specific accommodations in the classroom.

Step 4: Pass out to students

What do you think?

Resources featured in post available at Glitter in Third on TPT

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