Interactive Notebooks {Entry 1}

*Making it Their Own*

Last year, I used Interactive Notebooks within my classroom, for the first time.  Though there is much to gain from using INBs, I didn't feel as though my students were receiving all that the notebooks offered.  This has much to do with the way the INBs were introduced, organized, and maintained under my guidance.  

As I prepare for a new school year, there are several things I want to do differently as I plan to use Interactive Notebooks... just in a much more intentional way.

I will introduce the purpose and functionality of INBs to students.  Instead of focusing on that information alone, I want students to immediately gain a connection with their INB.  By making the notebook their own, students will invest time, pride, and creativity into their notebook, truly making the notebook an individualized textbook for themselves.  

The way students can put their own stamp of style and creativity on their notebook is by designing the cover to reflect them as an individual.  My example is below.  I chose scrapbook paper, and marked where the holes were on the notebook.  I simply hole-punched them out to make the paper fit nicely on the notebook cover.  I then, did my decorating.  I used a Sharpie to draw pictures of items that represent me, things that I enjoy.  Once I was finished with the front page, I used Mod Podge Matte to glue the paper down to the front cover of the notebook.  I folded the extra paper over to the back of the cover and Mod Podged it down.  Once the paper was down neatly, I Mod Podged the over the paper.  This covers and protects the paper on the cover, as well as provides a little more durability to the notebook.  

Note: Sometimes, the paper may bubble up, but as it dries, the paper will straighten back out. 

I followed the same process for the back of the notebook.  This time, I wrote the sections of the INB (which I will get to in "Interactive Notebook {Entry 2}).  

I did the same thing for my Social Studies INB.  I used the world map out of my old planning book and used it as on cover.  Before Mod Podging the paper down, I used a Sharpie to write my travel quotes on it.  I love how it turned out. 

Hopefully, I will remember to post student samples of their covers once school starts.  

Until then, stay tuned for Interactive Notebook {Entry 2}, which will focus on dividing the LA INB into different sections for different types of instruction.