Are interactive notebooks something you want to try in your classroom? Getting started with interactive notebooks can seem like a difficult and daunting task, but I promise, it’s actually much easier than it seems. Keep reading for all of the behind the scenes secrets to getting started with interactive notebooks successfully.
Need a few templates to get you going? You can download free interactive notebook setup templates here!
First, let’s talk about supplies.
What are the best notebooks for interactive notebooks?
It all starts with a notebook. So which notebook you use is an important decision. There are two options – the composition notebook and the spiral notebook. Both notebooks have their pros and cons.
The big benefit of using a spiral notebook is the amount of space you get per page. Bigger pages means you can fit more on each page. However, the con of spiral notebooks is a major one. They’re usually flimsy, and are very likely to fall apart during the school year.
Additionally, the pages fall out so easily. So many spiral notebooks are designed with perforated pages so they can easily be torn out.
Getting started with interactive notebooks: Choosing a notebook
The composition notebook, however, is small, but mighty. It holds up throughout the school year. The only con is that it is smaller, but the pages you print for interactive notes will fit perfectly.
The other thing to consider is page count, regardless of which notebook type you choose. There are two standard page counts of single-subject notebooks: 70 pages and 100 pages.
Every school year, I urge my students to find a notebook with a 100 page count so that it will last throughout the school year. Keep in mind that 100 pages means 200 pages front and back, and that should be enough for the school year. If students get a 70 page notebook, they may have to purchase a second notebook in the second semester.
Which notebook is best for interactive notebooks?
Personally, my pick when getting started with interactive notebooks is the composition notebook. It’s sturdy and lasts, and will prevent the headache that the spiral notebooks cause.
How to create interactive notebooks: tape vs glue
When you prepare to use interactive notebooks for the first time, another big decision to make is which adhesive you will use. You have 3 options: tape, glue sticks, and liquid glue. My top pick may surprise you.
The least messy option is tape. But, it’s also the most expensive option. Some teachers will even walk around the room with a roll of tape tearing off little pieces for each student. Students tend to go a little nuts and tear off pieces of tape that are way too big, thus wasting the expensive tape.
Usually when we are getting started with interactive notebooks a few students will ask for tape. So, I let them know that if they want to use tape they have to bring in their own. In fact, students are encouraged to bring in any of their own preferred supplies for interactive notebooks.
Using glue sticks for interactive notebooks
The next option is glue sticks. Glue sticks can get a little messy, but they are the least expensive option. The only issue is that the glue from glue sticks doesn’t always last. For a one-off art project, they’re fine. But, for an interactive notebook that may be carried to and from class and used every day, they don’t hold up. The pages glued in in September can start falling out in December.
Our final option is liquid glue, which most teachers find intimidating. Obviously, it can be very messy. However, liquid glue is my top preference.
How to use liquid glue for interactive notebooks
Here’s my secret: I teach my students how to use the liquid glue. We have a mini-lesson when we’re getting started with interactive notebooks at the beginning of the year.
The key is to use dots of glue, and to apply the glue about an inch from the edge of the paper. Four to five dots of glue is all they need. Students need little reminders in the beginning, but once they get it, it works like a charm.
However, even with training, some students can’t help themselves. There is always one or two that will paint a picture with liquid glue before gluing down their page.
For these students, I purchased a set of glue tap caps. They’re expensive, but so worth it. The only way to get to the glue to dispense is to tap the cap down on the paper. This way they are forced to make dots.
What other supplies do I need when getting started with interactive notebooks?
Obviously, notebooks and adhesive are the main components of interactive notebooks. But there are other supplies you can have ready.
If you plan to incorporate foldables into your interactive notebook, you will need scissors so students can cut them. I purchased a collection of adult-size scissors over time. Kid-size scissors are surprisingly challenging for high school students, although they are much less expensive.
Additionally, I like to have highlighters available for students. They can highlight as they see fit, or on some pages, I will direct them to use the highlighters to color code their notes.
Other supplies to include are colored pencils and rulers. Okay, so the rulers are math specific. But I’m sure there are also subject specific supplies you may want to add to this list as well.
The cost of interactive notebook supplies
Yes, getting started with interactive notebooks can be expensive. The first year I used them, I decided to try them after submitting my budget for the next school year. So, I paid for everything out of pocket.
To gather supplies for my classes, I shopped the back to school sales, and purchased the most inexpensive supplies I could find. Over time, I was able to replace these supplies with better ones.
Now that interactive notebooks are an established practice in my classroom, I only need to buy a few replacement supplies and notebooks each year. However, I do not purchase a notebook for every student in my classes. Instead, I purchase notebooks for about half. Many of my students like to purchase their own notebooks.
What should be included in interactive notebooks?
Once you’re ready to get started with interactive notebooks, the next step is to decide what you will include in your interactive notebooks. There are no right or wrong answers. It’s what works best for you and your students.
Some teachers like to implement a structure where the right page and left page each have a purpose. Like reflections, questions, or other musings in reaction to the notes.
As a math teacher, I often include notes, sometimes as a foldable, and practice problems. I don’t have a special structure, other than creating pocket pages to divide the units. Students like to keep their homework and assessments for class in the pocket pages too.
Pro tip: If you are printing notes for your students to add, make sure your page is set up in landscape orientation. The paper will fit perfectly when cut or folded in half in the composition notebook.
How to do interactive notebooks
When you’re getting started with interactive notebooks, you need to carefully consider the procedures you want to create. Having a plan for what will become your interactive notebook routines can make a huge difference in your overall experience. Here are some procedures to consider:
Will students be able to take their notebooks home?
This is a big question. Some teachers worry so much about their students losing their notebooks, that students are not allowed to take their notebooks out of the classroom. If that is your choice, then make sure you have a place where students can store their notebooks. The benefit here is that you won’t have to worry about students not having their notebook in class.
However, in my classes, students not being allowed to take their notebooks home defeats the purpose of having a notebook. So, yes, my students do bring their notebooks back and forth.
For the students that want to keep their notebooks in class, there’s a bin for them. Each class period has its own bin.
What if students don’t have their notebooks?
If you allow your students to bring their notebooks home, then there is the chance that they may not bring their notebook back every day. Have a plan for what students should do when this happens.
Since our notes are printed each day, I have students complete their notes on the print-out, and then glue it in their notebook next time.
If a student completely loses their notebook, I just have them start a new one. It’s not usually worth the fuss to totally recreate everything, however some students do choose to recreate their notebook from the beginning.
How will students gather their supplies?
As mentioned, there are so many supplies for interactive notebooks. Where will you keep them? How will students get them? How will students know which supplies they need, and which ones they won’t?
Here’s what I do:
- I have a bookshelf as students walk into the classroom where they can get all of the supplies they need.
- To organize the supplies, I use caddies from the Dollar Tree. There is one caddy for each table. The caddies hold scissors, glue, and highlighters for each student at the table. If they need additional supplies, I can simply add them to the caddies and remove them when we no longer need them. Each caddy has a label to match the table it belongs to.
- Additionally, I project a slide that shares the details of what we’re doing each day so students know when they need their notebook supplies and when they don’t.
Strategies for Interactive Notebooks
Having my classroom arranged in tables allows for an easier procedure regarding interactive notebook supplies because I’m able to use shared supply caddies. However, if you have your desks arranged in rows, the above will look a little different.
Instead of using caddies for each table, you can have a bin for each supply. Then, your students can take their own supplies from each bin as they enter class. This is what I did before I switched to tables.
Returning supplies
Of course, you will also need a plan for how you want your students to return their supplies. Even if it’s as simple as the procedure for getting supplies in reverse, you will need to communicate that procedure with your students.
Before I purchased the tap glue caps, a big part of our ending procedure was to close the liquid glue caps. This step will be necessary whether you choose glue sticks or liquid glue.
Other procedures that support using interactive notebooks
Have you ever tried writing on wet paper with a pencil? It does not work well at all. This is the exact question I ask my students when we’re setting up our interactive notebooks. One of our interactive notebook procedures is to complete the notes before gluing them into our notebooks. We don’t have time to wait for the glue to dry.
Using foldables in interactive notebooks
Another procedure I teach is knowing when to cut and when to fold. This is imperative if you choose to use foldables in your interactive notebooks. As I create my pages and foldables, I make every line that needs to be cut a dotted line. And every line that needs to be folded is a solid line.
This way, I don’t even have to tell students what to do every time they see a foldable. They just know. But, when you’re just starting out with foldables, make sure you have a few extra copies. There will be mistakes at first.
If you need help creating foldables, make sure you check out the foldable templates I have available on Teachers Pay Teachers. Everything is already formatted for you. All you have to do is add your information.
How to grade interactive notebooks
Another big decision to make is whether or not interactive notebooks are being completed for a grade in your class. This is completely up to you, but it may be worth hearing your students’ opinions as well.
Here’s the thing: Interactive notebooks are a lot of work. It may be a small amount of work each day, but it does add up.
Interactive Notebook Rubric
I strongly recommend using a rubric to grade interactive notebooks. Here is what the rubric I use looks like:
At the beginning of the year, we glue these to the back page and back cover or our notebooks. (If students purchased a notebook with a plastic cover, we will tape it to the cover instead.)
The rubric is simple, but it includes everything that I look for when grading. If you choose to use a rubric, you can make it more detailed and look for more things to grade in the notebook. But you will literally be creating more to grade for yourself, so keep that in mind.
If you’d like to use my rubric, you can get your own editable copy by clicking here.
Grading interactive notebooks
As a math teacher, I’m not grading for accuracy. They’re notes, so we’ve gone over every problem, and they should have the correct answers anyway. Instead, I grade purely for completion.
In my class, I use interactive notebooks as a reward. They’re a grade booster. If students have completed them and earned a good grade, I incorporate them as an additional quiz grade. (Quizzes are 25% of students’ total grade.)
However, if a student’s notebook earns a failing grade, I don’t include it in their quiz average. Essentially, I don’t put their interactive notebook grade in if it will hurt their overall average.
What if my students don’t like interactive notebooks?
Most students in my classes do like them. Interactive notebooks are a tool that gives students ownership of their learning, and it provides a different learning experience.
But, keep in mind, interactive notebooks are not for every student. Usually, one student each year tries the interactive notebook, and realizes that the format doesn’t work for them. I still require them to keep all of the notes, but they may use a folder or other means to store them. For these students, I don’t grade their notes.
Another option is to have a copy of pre-printed notes for those students that are not formatted for interactive notebooks.
Resources for getting started with interactive notebooks
When you’re getting started with interactive notebooks, a good plan is crucial. Make sure you think everything through so you can create systems and communicate them with your students.
If you’re ready to get started with interactive notebooks, here’s a short list of what you need to do:
- Decide on the supplies you will use and how you will distribute, collect, and store them.
- Choose the format you’d like to use: foldables, printed pages, right page vs. left page, etc.
- Determine if students will keep the notebook in your classroom or if they can take them home. If they can take them home, decide how to handle students that come without their notebook.
- Decide if or how you will grade the interactive notebooks.
- Establish a back-up plan if interactive notebooks don’t work for a particular student.
And check this list of resources for getting started with interactive notebooks:
