Our final mini-lesson in the interactive notebook (INB) series—can you believe it?! If you’ve been following along, I truly hope the last few weeks have left you feeling more confident and excited about using INBs in your classroom. If you have any lingering questions, drop them in the comments or shoot me an email—I’m always happy to help!
Last time, we talked all about assigning student jobs to make managing interactive notebooks a breeze. If you missed that post (and the free printable table labels!), click here to catch up.
Now that your student roles are assigned and classroom routines are established, it’s time to talk interactive notebook supplies—what you need, what’s nice to have, and what I personally recommend after nearly a decade of trial and error.
✨ This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you choose to make a purchase. I only share items I use and love. Thank you in advance for supporting my blog and small business!
📝 Basic Supplies for Interactive Notebooks
At a minimum, you’ll need the following for a smooth INB setup:
- Notebooks (spiral or composition—more on this below!)
- Paper for printing foldables and graphic organizers
- Scissors and glue for assembly
- Colored pencils or crayons for highlighting, annotating, and personalizing notes
These are the everyday must-haves to keep INBs running effectively in any grade level or subject area.
✂️ Optional (But Awesome!) INB Supplies
Want to level up your interactive notebook game? Consider adding:
- Washi tape or a mini stapler to secure flaps or foldables
- A supply caddy for each table group—perfect for your Materials Manager role
- A small trash bin (aka your “Tidy Tub”) for each group to minimize classroom chaos and keep things clean
These tools help support student independence and classroom organization while cutting down on interruptions and movement during instruction.
📘 My Personal Preferences (From Years of Trial & Error!)
COMPOSITION VS. SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS
My pick: Composition notebooks
Why? Durability. Spiral notebooks might seem convenient at first, but they’re often the first to fall apart. Metal wires get bent (or turned into student distractions), and pages are too easily torn out. Composition notebooks hold up better, keep pages intact, and are less tempting for fidgeting fingers. I stock up during back-to-school sales when you can grab them for $0.50 or less!
WHITE COPY PAPER VS. COLORED PAPER
My pick: A mix of both!
For foldables and printable inserts, I rotate between plain white and brightly colored paper, depending on the lesson.
- Use white paper to let students add their own flair and make the notes truly personal.
- Use colored paper to highlight key concepts and help visual learners differentiate between topics.
My favorite? The Astrobrights line. I especially love this calming blues set and this rainbow brights pack for a fun, engaging pop of color.
LIQUID GLUE VS. GLUE STICKS
My pick: Liquid glue (with a few glue sticks as backup)
Let’s talk glue. Glue sticks dry out quickly and often go missing (sound familiar?), while liquid glue offers better long-term hold for foldables. Yes, it takes some training, but it’s worth it.
At the beginning of the year, I teach every student—yes, even upper elementary—how to use glue properly. Say it with me, friends: 🗣️ “A little dab of glue will do!”
To make it easier (and cleaner), I swap out the regular glue bottle tops for these magical caps and only have to refill glue bottles once or twice a year. I keep a few glue sticks on hand per table group just in case.
🧺 Storage & Organization Tips
A smooth INB lesson starts with organized supplies. Here’s what works for me:
- Each table has a Dollar Tree caddy stocked with scissors, crayons/colored pencils, glue, and highlighters. I’ve used the same set for over eight years and only had to replace one—total win!
- At the end of each year, I clean them with soap and a Clorox wipe and store them for the fall.
- Every table also has a small Tidy Tub (tiny wastebasket) to keep scraps contained until cleanup time.
These simple systems make my Materials Managers and Clean-Up Crew jobs easy to manage—and keep your sanity intact during busy weeks!
📌 ACTIONABLE STEPS: What do you think? Did I miss your must-have interactive notebook supply?
Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what works for you!
Want to keep learning? Check out the rest of the Interactive Notebook Series:
- Week 1: What Are Interactive Notebooks?
- Week 2: Who Benefits from INBs?
- Week 3: Managing INBs with Student Jobs
And stay tuned—I’ll be sharing even more interactive notebook resources, organization tips, and time-saving teacher tools in future posts!
