Why use Notebooking in your Homeschool?

When we first started homeschooling, we we really into lapbooking, but as our boys are growing older, we have transitioned more into notebooking and are really enjoying the benefits of it. So why use Notebooking in your Homeschool?

What is Notebooking?

Simply put, notebooking is an educational journal or scrapbook. It can take on many forms, such as a recipe book, nature journal, scrapbook, sketch book or a science report, any form you want. It is a creative way for your child to record and document their learning in their own way.  When they have completed their notebooking journey, they will have a portfolio showing their scope of learning and how they have progressed over time. The feeling of accomplishment your child gets when they complete their notebooking journals is truly an amazing sight to see.

Why use Notebooking in your Homeschool?

• Personalised Learning. Each of our children learn differently and notebooking gives them a place to record what they have learnt in their own words. Not only do they write what is important to them, but they are also learning to ask more in depth questions and find the answers to these questions.
• Independent Learning. Our boys are at the age where they can work independently on their own. They chose their own topic, do their own research (collecting the books they need or finding information online) and write their own notes. Of course, if they need help, I point them in the right direction before leaving them to finish it on their own.
• Creativity. Notebooking definitely gives your child a chance to be as creative as they want. One of our boys likes art and is quite creative, the other one isn’t, he is more of a sporty guy who prefers to keeps things simple. Though I do find that, when our sporty guy is in the mood, he can get very creative with his map or diagram drawings. Sometimes, instead of drawing their own pictures, our boys do print off pictures and paste them into their notebooks.
• Budget-Friendly. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on curriculum books, instead all you need is a good printer, ink, paper, pens and pencils and you are ready to go. You can store your notebooking pages in a ring binder or staple the completed pages together to make a book.
• Literacy and Handwriting Skills. Through notebooking, your child spends a lot of time writing, practicing and improving their handwriting skills. By consistently reading and writing, their literacy skills will also improve. Things like punctuation, spelling and the use of new words all help your child grow in this area.
• Portfolio. Over the years, you will collect a beautiful portfolio of your child’s work. These notebooks can be used as a review of things they have studied in the past (they could even add more if they wish) or as a portfolio, showing how they have grown over the years. These notebooking journals can also be used to show friends and family what they have have been learning and even used in conjunction with an oral report.
• All Subjects, All Grades, All Curriculums. Notebooking is not limited to a certain age, grade or level. Every child can participate, no matter what age. They just complete their notebooking to the level they are current at. Topics can be chosen from any subject from Maths to History to English and everything in between. They can also be used with any curriculum, from textbook to Charlotte Manson to unschooling.

NotebookingPages.com is a great place to start when looking for already prepared notebooking pages. You can sign up for a Sample Pack which includes over 600 pages for Free!

Notebooking is fun, versatile and great for children of all ages. I’d love to hear from you how Notebooking is going for you!