Let’s be honest – teaching is a lot of hard work. There are so many tasks to keep track of, from grading to planning lessons, that it can be easy to overlook the small stuff. One of those things is often interactive notebooks and notebook supplies; they can quickly become disorganized and chaotic if not managed properly. Don’t worry though! Here are some tips for teachers to help their students keep their interactive notebooks and notebook supplies organized and ready for use in the classroom.
Label Everything
Another great way to keep student interactive notebooks organized is by labeling everything! This includes labeling the individual sections of the notebook as well as labeling any storage boxes or containers used for storing extra supplies. Labeling not only helps students easily identify what goes where but it also helps you when giving instructions on how to set-up their notebook correctly or directing them on where they need to go when looking for certain items.
Labeling everything applies to the inside of interactive notebooks as well. Download this free table of contents template to help your students label and number the pages of their interactive notebooks.
Organize Notebooking Supplies into Categories
Start by organizing all your students’ supplies into sectioned tubs by category and keep one tub handy for each group of students. For example, you might have one section of basic writing utensils like pencils, pens, and erasers; another section with markers and crayons; another section for additional items such as scissors, glue, and tape. Encourage and have students practice putting items back in the correct section of the tub after each use. This way when you hand out the supplies it will be easier for them to stay organized because they know exactly where everything goes.
Color Code Sections of the Notebook
Color coding is another great way to stay organized! Use little sticky post-it flags for each new section of a notebook. You want students to use their interactive notebook as a study tool and reference resource, so make it easy to use later!
This will allow students to quickly find the section they are looking for. Better yet it will help them to make sure they are writing and gluing in the correct section of the notebook and avoid having a mixed-up mess later. This is helpful whether you are dividing the notebook by academic topic or using sections for class notes, brainstorming, work samples, etc. A favorite section in our math notebooks are for keeping mini anchor charts to refer to during independent work time.
Use Bins and Containers
Finally, using bins or containers can help make keeping students’ interactive notebooks neat and tidy much easier! Have students store their extra papers or unfinished work in labeled bins or folders so it’s easy for them (and you!) to find later on down the road. Also having a bin to store everyone’s interactive notebooks in will make it less likely that the notebooks end up stuffed and wrinkled at the back of the desk.
Make It Fun!
Organizing doesn’t have to be boring or mundane – make it fun! If organization is an issue in your classroom try having a “neatness contest” every now and then between groups or after exams/projects are due. This will encourage students to take pride in how neat their interactive notebooks are kept which will pay off in the long run when it comes time for exams/quizzes or just general organization around the classroom.
Keeping student notebooks organized may seem like an extra step but trust me – it pays off in the end! Not only will this help your class stay on top of assignments but also give them valuable organizational skills they can use later on in life. With these tips, teachers can easily create an environment where neatness is highly valued without feeling like its taking up too much extra time or energy. So go ahead – get organized today!