Setting Up Your Classroom Notebooks

I'm really big on interactive notebooks.  I think they are a great tool to keep students actively engaged in the material they are learning.  Very rarely will you ever catch me using a worksheet!  I like my students learning the material with their hands.

There are multiple ways that you can set up your class notebooks.  I happened to score 24 spiral bound notebooks for $3.74, including shipping & handling, from Staples last year during the back-to-school promos.  Needless to say, that's what we're using now.  I prefer composition books though, but they are slightly more expensive.  If you are worried about the spirals coming "unthreaded", you can duct tape them, as seen here on Pinterest.  We have lost a few pages this year, so I've performed a little corrective surgery on a few notebooks.

You may choose either type of notebook to get started.  The clip art set that I bought to make my materials included a superhero shield, so I created a personal shield for each student using his/her initials and affixed it to the front of the notebook with superhero washi tape.  Another idea is to use superhero-themed duct tape to cover the front of the notebook.  I've done this in the past (and I do this for my students at public school in their notebooks too).  Depending on the number of students in your class, you can end up spending a lot on tape!  If you use duct tape, I recommend a cutting board and an Exacto knife to help with cutting efficiency.  (Scissors bunch up the duct tape, and believe me, you'll get frustrated really fast!)  Get creative and decorate them the way you and your students like.  

    

Here are some links to some superhero-themed tapes that you might like:
Batman Tape
Spiderman Tape
Colored Stars Tape
Word Burst Tape 

In my introductory days with a new group, as I explain procedures, I tell them that every morning when they come in (because some are inevitably earlier than others), they will have "morning work."  For the first few weeks, their morning work was prepping their notebooks.  This involves pasting their tables of contents into the first pages of their notebooks.  I usually print one of the first page and three of the second page (download file by clicking images below).  That way they have four pages in all for table of contents.  In other words, you have room to grow. 

The students in my class now have a different table of contents than the one I have above.  Another blogger friend of mine (4mulafun) created an Interactive Notebook planning sheet that I tried to use for the table of contents so they could see how the facing pages were listed "side by side".  I realized in hindsight that this was a little confusing for them because it wasn't what they were used to seeing.  The spaces also didn't work for their larger handwriting at this age.  That's when I created my own table of contents for future use!  (I do love the planning sheet though!  I just realize now that I think it's more for the teacher instead of the students.)

Then they begin numbering their pages in the bottom corners of their notebooks.  For first and second graders, you have to periodically check everyone's notebook because pages stick together, they forget what number they're on, etc.  It's helpful to have a co-teacher to divide the labor with you so that no one gets to far if they've made a mistake.  Catch it early on! 

The first actual page in their notebooks is then the "I am a Bible hero" page.  Of course, I print the girls' page for the girls and the boys' page for the boys.  I let them color this as themselves as a reminder that when we learn about the Bible, we are all heroes!

Your notebook should now be ready to go!  As students add pages, they should add the titles and the page numbers of those titles on their tables of contents.  I didn't pre-print those so that you have the freedom to add or take out material as you plan your unit.  I recommend all the pieces of the unit that we've done, but I know time does not always allow!  :)

A Peek into Our "Super" Classroom!

I certainly can't take all the credit (nor would I want to) for our ultra-fabulous classroom!  My previous co-teacher had the idea of a superhero themed class and classroom.  Superheroes are close to my heart... who doesn't love the idea of a powerful, protective leader who exhibits the utmost of integrity?  Isn't that a wonderful connection to what God has done for us?  And first and second graders definitely know their superheroes, so it provides an excellent opportunity to launch discussions and develop interest.

When our rosters changed this past fall and students moved into their new classrooms, my current co-teacher (Ms. Toni) and I decided to do a complete room revamp.  With the help of our wonderful elders, we took the superhero theme to the next level.  Creating an engaging and aesthetically-pleasing environment is important for young learners.  It's the first opportunity you have to "grab" them...and thus, their attention.  Our new students were captivated, and our returning students were so excited!  Take a look at some of the things we did.

We invite our students into our room with colorful super shields and a beautiful tulle wreath that Ms. Toni made.

We hung pennants, stars, and paper lanterns to decorate our windows and ceiling.

We push our semi-circle table all the way to the far side of the room so we have lots of floor space to spread out our hands-on games and activities.  The blue, red, and black superhero colors give our room a consistent, colorful theme.

This bulletin board is my favorite!  We used alternating red/blue tissue paper squares to make the border colorful and three-dimensional.  The clouds and letters make the board "pop".  These shelves are also where each of our students has his/her own cubby with a notebook & supplies.

We also used this opportunity to get super-organized.  As you'll see in future posts, I really enjoy interactive notebooks.  Students get engaged with hands-on activities and manipulatives.  They should also have material over which they can take personal ownership in the classroom, so we took this chance to organize cubbies for each student.  Check out how we organized our spaces in the photo above.  (I will explain more about interactive notebooks in a future post...don't worry!)

Thanks for peeking into our "super" classroom.  Now you can envision all our lessons in our very creative space.

Welcome to this "Super" Blog!

I'm overjoyed to finally launch something that's lived in the recesses of my mind for quite some time!  I am tremendously blessed to have the greatest Sunday School class in the world.  That's right...my students are simply the greatest, smartest, most hard-working kiddos in the world!  We have worked so hard to become Sunday School Superheroes this year, and they have impressed me every week along the way.  I've wanted to share their story (and mine) with you so that you can make these things happen in your class too.  That's why I have launched this blog.  I want to use it as a way to communicate ideas for teaching young learners about the Bible and about Bible truths.  These amazing first and second graders can already find scriptures independently!  They understand how their Bibles are organized.  They literally BEG to know more about the Bible each week.  They challenge me to be a better teacher, and most importantly, a better Christian.  I just couldn't keep all that to myself anymore.  I had to share it with you too!  So, I hope you'll dive in, ask questions, and use these resources to create your very own Sunday School Superheroes!