S.T.A.R. Books

Find everything when you need it,
get everything done when it is due.
~Maria Gracia

What, you may be asking, is a S.T.A.R. Book? Well, in my opinion, a S.T.A.R. Book is one of the greatest ideas that's been shared with me! A very talented first grade colleague (Pam Cloonan) implemented B.E.E. Books (Bring Everything Everyday) in her first grade classroom several years ago and now all of our first grade teachers use them. She shared the idea with me and this is the first time I will be using these with my third grade students, though we are using the acronym S.T.A.R. (Students Taking Awesome Responsibility).

Quite simply, a S.T.A.R. Book is a 1 inch clear view three ring binder that houses every single item that a student will need to keep organized, and provide a way to keep parents well informed of classroom activities, responsibilities, homework, and goings on. A place for everything and everything in its place is a motto that I feel is very important to instill in a child. The S.T.A.R. Book is a way to foster responsibility and teach organizational skills. If your students have never used this type of organizational tool before it will be very important to use direct, explicit instruction to teach them the ins and outs of the S.T.A.R. Books. Parents are encouraged to check all sections of the S.T.A.R. Book on a nightly basis.

To view a larger size image simply click on the thumbnail of the picture.
Here are the sections that will be in our third grade S.T.A.R. Books. Each of the double pocket folders will be labeled. I use Avery 5163 (2" x 4") for the labels that are linked here.
LABELS	EXPLANATION
Cover	The cover of the S.T.A.R. Book will have a blank spot for the children to draw a self-portrait. This is the ONLY time the students will be writing on their book! Another possibility is to print the cover with a graphic already in place. This cover is decorated with graphics from PCHugware.

S.T.A.R. Bucks Pouch	This zippered pouch will be used to transport money for book orders, lunch, field trips, etc. It will not be used to hold school supplies due to the fact that it is not sturdy enough for this purpose.

Parent Page (page protector)	The very first page of the S.T.A.R. Book will explain to parents and students the sections of the book, as well as the Do's and Don'ts of using the book.

Class List, Daily Schedule, Monthly Calendar, Class Handbook, Proper Heading, Cursive Alphabet, Behavior (page protectors)	Each of these will be in a page protector for the parents and students to refer to throughout the school year. I will make changes to them on an "as needed" basis. These will be changed ONLY by me.

Homework	Homework assignments will be transported to and from school in this pocket. This eliminates rumpled and crumpled papers. A Homework Record Sheet is kept in this pocket of the book. When the children bring in an assignment on time they earn a star. We work toward a set number of stars and anyone who meets the goal partakes in the reward. The shaded part of the recording sheet marks increments of 10 completed assignments.
I use double pocket folders that I get for 10 cents a piece during summer school supply sales. You fold the folder backwards, hole punch the side that is open (I also staple this side since it is the open side), stick on the label, and then it is ready for the S.T.A.R. Book.
Important Parent/Teacher Communication	This pocket will be used to send notes back and forth between parent and teacher. It will be the child's responsibility to remove notes from this section and give them to me each morning.
S.T.A.R. Studded Work	This pocket will contain work that has been graded and can be kept at home for display on the refrigerator! It should be emptied each night.

Journal	This pocket will house the child's journal that they will write in each week. Parents are encouraged to write responses to their children, and are required to sign the journal.
Daily Reading Log	This folder is used to hold the picture book, or chapter book, that the student is reading. It also contains a Reading Log that they have to fill out each night, as well as the following: Parent Letter Reading Log Reading Log Directions Reading BINGO (Anna Lombardo-Oswego City School District) Genre Table (Anna Lombardo-Oswego City School District)

Spines Crate Labels	This Word document can be saved to your computer so that you can make spines inserts for your S.T.A.R books. I also use a number with the child's name so that it is easy for them to put in the correct spot in the S.T.A.R. crates. The crate labels designate the numbers that go in each crate.
Our S.T.A.R. Books are kept in two crates. When the children enter in the morning their first order of business is to take anything out of their S.T.A.R. Book that needs to be taken out. Homework goes in the homework basket, notes go in a basket on my desk, and S.T.A.R. Books get replaced in the crates. I put each child's name and number in the spine of the book. The numbering makes it easier for me to see if there is a S.T.A.R. Book missing. I keep a class list by the S.T.A.R. Books. At the end of the day children get their S.T.A.R. Books from the crate and put any mail, notes, homework, star studded work, etc. into their book.

I had a group of helpers work with me on a Saturday morning to put our S.T.A.R. Books together. Pictured are my three nieces and Ethan, a boy in my class. It's amazing how much can get done when everyone is working together for a common goal!

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