Starting Our Interactive Notebooks

   I don't know about you all, but I am a HUGE fan of Interactive Notebooks. They are a staple in my classroom! We are continually adding to them throughout the entire year as we learn new skills and need to put more of our thoughts down on paper. I started using the Interactive Notebook two years ago and each year it seems I continually improve upon them, making them better. This last year I discovered the usefulness of putting a cover on our composition notebooks. This is honestly an idea that originated from Pinterest somewhere or I saw on something else in another way and decided to adapted it to fit our notebooks. Basically, I for the life of me cannot remember where this idea originated from, but I HAVE to share what I did with you all!

The Items You Will Need:
Composition Notebook
Crayons, Markers, or Colored Pencils
(To Make Your Cover Colorful)
Scissors
Scotch Ultra Clear Mailing Tape
Sharpie
(To Personalize with Your Name)
    The first thing to get done on creating your masterpiece notebook cover is putting some color on it! I usually let my kids do this the first day, while they are filling out a Reading Interest Survey of some sort!

    After coloring and cutting out your cover around the border, you are ready to tape it down. Place your cover in the middle of the composition notebook, there is no need to glue it down as the tape will keep it in place. If you feel more comfortable gluing it down first, you may. I would pre-measure your tape to a little longer than the length of your notebook so you can fold the tape over on the inside flap. I have found it easier to do this than measuring as you pull with the tape dispenser. It will take about five or six pieces total.

   Continue this until the notebook is covered with the Scotch tape. These covers last the entire year and because they are folded over on the inside the kids are less likely to pick at them! This is an extra bonus to me because the picking of the tape will drive me crazy!
    When I first attempted this, I messed up my first notebook which made me want to cry because I loved the coloring! I say this to warn you that there may be some trial and error in this process, but you get better at the process as you go along. I also want to warn that completing this for an entire class will take some time, but I find it worth the effort, especially if students are going to have more than one composition notebook hanging out in their desk. I have compiled a compilation of notebook covers for ALL primary subject areas that is for sale here in my TPT store. I hope this helps you get your year started off on the right foot with your notebooks!