When we returned from winter break, I started a new daily writing activity in my classroom: 100 Days of Notebooking. In truth we don’t have 100 days of school left, but no matter. The point is to write and draw and be creative every day in some way or another. My students have embraced this idea.
We start each entry with the date and a quote. I have a copy of 360 Days of Wonder which is full of quotes. I also allow students to look up quotes by famous people they admire. One student is choosing a sports quote each day.
The papers I used for the collage above were images in a National Geographic magazine of a polluted lake in Romania. I told Chloe about it and she wrote a poem about it. I asked her if I could have a copy for my notebook page.
For Christmas, one of my students gave me a gift card to Target, so I used it to get more notebooking supplies, washi tape, felt-tip pens, and decorative paper.
Michelle Haseltine started a Facebook group and an Instagram hashtag. It’s fun to be a part of a larger group. Everyone has their own unique style of notebooking. I enjoy drawing inspiration from others.
Avalyn picked out the quote above, and we discussed the figurative meaning of it. On her notebook page, she wrote a loving poem. You can see how she worked on the line breaks. She posted it on our Fanschool page. You can leave a comment for her here.
Do you have a notebook? What creativity can you bring to the blank page?
Reflections on the Teche 
The 100 days of notebooking is a cool idea, and it looks like your kids are into it already. Their voices are strong and give me hope for the future.
How beautiful! So much fun in a notebook.
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I’m so excited your students are joining in on this. Beautiful!!!
Your creative energy seems endless, Margaret! I love that you’ve involved your students in 100 days of notebooking and am so impressed that you’re participating as well!
You make it seem so easy, easy enough for the students to join in. Thanks for the ideas.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful examples and ideas. I love the freedom and beauty of the 100 days and I might have to try it in my classes!
“Write and draw and be creative every day in some way or another” – a worthy and vitally important goal that the students have so obviously embraced! From the Beatles to global awareness to proverbs they have created work that is vibrant with color and meaning. I absorb it all, Margaret, and think how it is the soul reaching for more…tell the students their own work is beautiful and inspiring, as is yours, always.
Margaret, I always love to see how you foster creativity in your students. Notebooking with inspirational quotes allows for creative juices to flow. Avalyn’s work is amazing for a young child. I left a response for her. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your own notebooking with your new supplies.