Your notebook and supplies become your own "office" and work 
space while you are in school or doing homework.  For this 
reason you want to have an appropriate and comfortable set of 
supplies!  Many students and parents in past years want to purchase 
their own supplies for school and have asked my opinion about the 
most effective supplies for my class.

For Team Blue Grade 8 Science, I suggest a 1 and 1/2 inch or 2 inch
THREE RING BINDER with dividers that can hold Science as well as 
Social Studies, Math, and some Humanities subjects. Since you will be 
cleaning out your notebook regularly, or as your teacher asks, you 
should not need a huge notebook! Furthermore, notebooks over 2 inches 
take up needed bookbag and locker space and are difficult to use 
during class.
  
To do your best in Science class you will want to have a separate 
section for Science in your three-ring binder which will contain 
class notes, handouts, homework, reports, tests, quizzes and lab 
reports.  These papers will be kept by you in order by date. DO NOT 
USE A SPIRAL BOUND NOTEBOOK FOR SCIENCE since it does not allow you 
to take out or replace notes, homework or handouts.

Please try to avoid bulky 3 inch binders and those with zippers, 
accordian folders, etc. Too many "pockets" cause confusion, and 
large notebooks take up too much room in your locker and bookbag.

NO SPIRAL BOUND notebooks if possible, please!!  They do not allow 
for quick adding or removal of papers throughout the day and week, 
and soon become a stumbling block to successful notebook keeping. 
Also, the spiral edge rubs against other papers causing them to tear.

"Pen packs" are favored by many students since they are a handy 
storage for pens, pencils, page reinforcement rings, red correcting 
pen, highlighter and a few colored pencils.  I highly recommend all 
of these items!

Science textbooks should be covered with a non-stick book cover 
within a few days of their distribution. Brown paper bags are very 
strong and durable as covers, as are Book Socks. Since our Science 
tezxtbooks are tall, I will ask you to replace any Book Socs that 
are too small since they break the bindings.

Make sure to keep a spare supply of notebook paper available and to 
update your notebook every few weeks.  Good housekeeping helps you 
stay organized and successful!!