NOotebooking is the practice of journaling as you learn to use pictures, words, or both. This is an easy and engaging way to teach any subject and works very well in the homeschool setting. Beautiful templates, coloring tools, and a learning environment provide students with everything they need to use the notebook successfully.
There are two reasons children thrive in a notebook learning environment
- They have ownership of their work. They are designing and writing their own learning.
- Quality templates add value to your work. Easy-to-manage spaces make journaling less intimidating.
Organize a scrapbook station
Find a wide variety of notepad templates. You can create them yourself or download templates from thousands of scrapbook templates available online.
Organize your templates in files or notebooks.
If you are using the ttraditional hanging file folder system, create folders for your templates to make them easier to find. Some example categories would be: blank templates, countries, ancient history, flowers, insects, character studies, and holidays. There are many more categories. Just add new templates in new folders as you purchase them.
If you chose to organize your tpockets in notebooks, you may want to fill a three ring binder with plastic page holders. Print out the patterns for each template for your child and use file dividers to organize them by theme.
Organize your art supplies.
Create an area, container, or stand for your child to have easy access to scissors, glue, crayons, colored pencils, and markers. Refill them several times a year to keep supplies fresh!
Create a journal for each child’s completed notebook pages.
Your children will be very proud of their notebook pages when they are complete. Validate their hard work by providing them with a place to store them safely. A three ring binder with plastic page protectors works great. At the end of the school year, or when they have compiled a large collection of pages on a particular topic, you can even have the pages bound in your local office supplies.
Notepads make a beautiful keepsake and even make a great gift for grandparents.
Taking the time to organize your child’s notebook templates, journal, and supplies is essential. If you treat these supplies with respect, they will too. There is something inherently liberating about journaling what you are learning. It is one of the best ways to document what you are learning. Your children will come to love their journals. Even reluctant writers can grow by first using the pages as a copy, then the word and phrase collectors, and finally documenting their learning.
The notebook is a fruitful resource and skill to add to any educational setting and works wonderfully with homeschooling learning.
