Getting Supplies Ready

So you are thinking of implementing interactive notebooks in your class (yay!). Let me give you some things to think about before diving into making notes. What type of notebook will you use? Where will the other non-notebook papers go such as discovery activities or homework? What other supplies will you need? Will you use tape or glue, or maybe both? Where will everything get stored? I am here to make your life a little simpler and give you some guidance to answer these questions. It's a long post but full of good information.

Notebook Selection

For starters, each student is going to need a notebook. I request that my students bring in a composition notebook. I find them to be rather sturdy to live up to the daily wear and tear of my middle schoolers (we did have some covers look less than desirable but I have a way to fix that in a future post). I personally do not like to use spiral notebooks, the pages get caught in the metal and fall out too easily, but you can use whatever kind of notebook you are more comfortable with. Some prefer them because they are larger sheets of paper, but remember that most spiral notebooks do not have as many pages (might not be an issue for you but something to consider). I have seen some teachers even use binders, although I dislike this option because as mentioned in my previous post, my students lose everything so a binder would be counter productive.

As for how big of a notebook, my 7th grade class had almost 100 pages of notes last year, so I would recommend a notebook with at least 60 pages, 120 sheets. Almost all of my students brought in a standard 100 pages, 200 sheets notebook. Bonus - they are only 50 cents! I usually buy about 5 or so every summer just in case a student can’t afford one. I also request a folder to hold discovery activities/classwork and homework (I will be keeping all their assessment in folders inside the classroom). Depending on your subject(s) you may want to request a binder to put all other papers into with dividers.

Group Bins

You now have to decide how supplies will be shared amongst the class, or will each student have to bring in their own supplies? I would start by considering the arrangement of your classroom, will your desks be in groups/tables, pairs, or rows? Group supplies in bins work terrific in a group setting, this is how I started the year out. I had 4 desks grouped together, each group was numbered, and used the supplies from their numbered bin. However, after the first marking period, I could no longer take the chatting amongst the groups so I separated into pairs (they actually preferred it this way). You may be asking, how in the world did you do “group” supplies now...surprisingly easily! Those same four kids shared the supplies, they just had to turn around to share them with their “group.” This method would also work if you have rows in your class, just assign certain desks to be in a specific “group.”
You also want to think about your bin choice. I chose bins (pictured below) that neatly fit all of my supplies, everything had a home. My suggestion here would be to gather the items you want to put in the bin, then determine if you want a bin or a caddy of some sort. There is no wrong answer, it is up to you and what you think will work best in your classroom. I will say, if your desks are not in groups, pick durable bins because the bin is likely to be accidentally knocked off the desk a time or two. Sure dollar tree has adorable bins and beautiful colors but do not forget the purpose of them. I chose bins that fit my color scheme perfectly from Family Dollar ($1 each!) but had to throw a few of them out by the end of the year due to damage when they had fallen off the desks. My kids got into the habit of putting the bin on the floor when they weren’t currently using it or wanted more space. I have seen some teachers have a 3 drawer bin at each group/table and store each group's supplies in them. I love that idea, however, groups do not work in my class, but to each their own.

Tape or Glue?

You have to decide if you will be using tape or glue in your classroom, or perhaps you will allow them a choice. This is not a sales pitch but I use Elmer’s liquid glue for a number of reasons. One, Elmer’s glue is the best, holds paper well opposed to other brands but non-Elmer’s is not a deal breaker, glue is glue after all. Two, I hate glue sticks! They do not hold the papers together well enough. In a few weeks, the notes you worked so hard on will fall out due to the dried up adhesion. Plus, kids don’t take care of them, losing tops or not putting them on correctly, no thank you. Three, liquid glue lasts so long! I taught 80 kids last year and we had full notebooks by the end of the year. We used only the glue bottles I put out the first day of school, a total of 13 bottles with a little left in each one by the last day of school!
As for tape, I personally do not use it, but one of my team teachers used it and intends to use it again next year in addition to glue. This year I am actually trying something new. My students will be allowed to use glue but I am also allowing them the option to use adhesive double sided tape rollers. I got them for a great price (they are usually very pricey) and this will eliminate any issues glue may cause.

What supplies are in the group bins?

In each group bin there should be the following:

• Scissors - One pair per student
• One pack of colored pencils
• One pack of crayons
• One pack of highlighters
• Liquid Glue - One bottle per two students
• IF you decide to use tape you will need one tape dispenser and one roll of tape
• You will also want a trash bin for each group

Optional Items: These are items I have stored elsewhere in my room and pull them out when we need to use them, but you may prefer to have them in their group bins.n there should be the following:

• Rulers
• Erasers
• Calculators
• Dry erase/whiteboard supplies
• Small pencil sharpener
• Post-its (a lot of ELA teachers use them almost daily)

Here are some photos of the contents of my bins when I was setting them up. The only difference is the scissors were put inside the cup like bins, and the crayons were stored in snap containers from dollar tree (2 or 3 for $1). The highlighters and colored pencils, I stored in the small pencil plastic pencil case from Walmart ($1 each)

All supplies and bins (missing scissors)

Almost completed group bins

Storage
Now that you have your lovely group bins made, you need to find a place to store them. Mine were in easily accessible, right by the door next to the garbage and recycling cans on a book case (pictured below). They were easy to grab on the way in, and conveniently located for simple clean up on the way out. Honestly, they can be anywhere in the room, as long as they have a home and are not difficult to get to. I would also suggest putting a recycling can nearby for the students to dump their trash can of scraps into (no one wants to upset their custodians).

Group bins & trash cans
stored on a bookshelf