Notebooking Meets Lapbooking

[Kendall in GA]

I don't know if this has been discussed before; but, I just "discovered" something new this week.

Background:
We are avid lapbookers around here. We lapbooked almost every title my dd rowed in Vol. 1-3.

Fastforward:
My dd started Vol. 4 this week. I bought legal size file folders in anticipation of larger lapbooks. Well, after just 2 days of school I determined that she'd have too much stuff to squeeze into a lapbook, especially all of the notebook pages.

My dd keeps a 3-ring binder; however, I didn't want to file her FIAR Vol. 4 work in the binder. Soooo....I decided to use a paper, 3-prong folder for each Vol. 4 title. She can still decorate the cover of each folder w/ stickers, drawings etc. I LOVE the fact that only work from one book is kept together. (Ya know, my brain can't handle clutter and too much stuff stuck together...I like things organized. ;)) Also, she can still do minute books if she likes. She can glue them on cardstock and 3-hole punch the cardstock and stick it in the folder, too. I can store them in my plastic magazine racks just like our lapbooks.

I'm just so excited!...Just wanted to share my discovery of the week. :D :hop: (Sorry, if y'all already knew about this...It's new to me!)

[Hollie in SC]

Great idea!:clap: :kiss:

[CJ]

We have used the 10 cent report folders with 3 prongs and pockets for a long, long time. They are great for FIAR and other unit studies. I store them in a tub in the attic and every now and then we get it out and look through them.

I have the kids dictate reports or stories to me and I type them up. Then they add drawings or choose graphics to add. It is SO fun to read these years later.

[Kendall in GA]

We have used the 10 cent report folders with 3 prongs and pockets for a long, long time.


I've used them for mini units/topics since we started FIAR (complete w/ a lable from my handy lable maker); however, it never occured to me to use them for FIAR titles...Go figure! :eyes: I suppose late is better than never. :)

[MichelleL in Tn]

we have done alot of 10 cent folder notebooks like that in the past too.
It helped me not worry so much about filling all the small areas up.

We always decorated our covers too. We did that for Owl Moon. The dc made a cut and paste owl on the front. (Very cute).

[shonda in ca]

Well, it is new to me, Kendall! :thumb: I love the idea and will use it this year! :yes:
Thanks, friend! :D

[Kristina J]

Thanks for that great idea! Anyone else see an organizational book in Kendall's future?? :lol:

[Missy]

Great idea, Kendall. :thumb:

[Heather W]

Oh yeah! We've done this too. Works like a charm. You can fit a lot in there and it's not as bulky as a notebook. I use card stock a lot to glue on the fun folded items and then hook them right in. GREAT idea for Beyond stuff. The whole unit can fit in one.

Great discovery! Do we get to see pictures when they get further along??:)

[AndreaD]

That's what we've decided to do with Beyond this year- a 3 prong folder for each title. Great idea!

[Wende]

Oh yes! It works wonderfully! I also use the folders to organize the units in advance, if I'm printing off anything ahead of time, or want to make a note of go-along books, etc, I just pop it in the folder.

[Kristina]

Hmmm...I wonder if anyone has them on sale this week? We just started online piano lessons and I wanted to make a notebook for her..but I like this idea much better. Thanks for the idea.

Kristina

[Julia in MO]

Office Depot has them this week for 5 cents each, limit 20 per visit. With AND without prongs.

Julia in StL

[Kendall in GA]

Hmmm...I wonder if anyone has them on sale this week?

Be careful!! I bought a package of 10 on sale for a ridiculously low price (can't remember the exact price) and was sooooooooo :mad: when I opened the package when I got home. The quality of the folders was absolutely horrible. They were so cheap! They were so flimsy that they were worthless. (I couldn't even believe they were on the market.) I decided not to use them. I went on a mission to find sturdier folders. Thankfully, I found some. They were not shrink-wrapped. I could see the folders individually and touch them. It was worth paying the extra $/folder for a better quality.

[Kendall in GA]

Oh yeah! We've done this too.

Hmph...Now, Heather, why haven't you shared this with us??! You know that I hate reinventing the wheel. :lol:

EAT: I'll try to share pictures after my dd completes Roxaboxen next week.

[Paige P]

Hmph...Now, Heather, why haven't you shared this with us??! You know that I hate reinventing the wheel. :lol:



My thoughts exactly? (Not just Heather, though.) After ALL the myriad notebooking/lapbooking questions and discussions around here ....... those folders sound like a GREAT idea. Can't wait to see some pics :)

[Heidi J]

Thanks for the idea. I have no idea what I'm even doing so this helps :D.

[Alexandra]

If you are filling an entire folder for one FIAR title, how many weeks are you spending on one book? At the one week a book pace, I am not sure I'd have enough to make a small folder/book. We are notebooking with FIAR in the more traditional 3 ring binder method, but she is 7 so we usually only have 2 pages per book.

I love this idea for Beyond! I am going to use this with my older dd.

[Kendall in GA]

If you are filling an entire folder for one FIAR title, how many weeks are you spending on one book?


My dd is using the 3-prong folders for FIAR Vol. 4. We row each title for 2 weeks. We have plenty to stick in there just after one week. I'm sure that she'll have more stuff to add next week.

My ds does not use the folders. He's in FIAR Vol. 1/2/3 and he (w/ my help) makes traditional lapbooks w/ file folders.

[Heather W]

Hmph...Now, Heather, why haven't you shared this with us??! You know that I hate reinventing the wheel. :lol:

EAT: I'll try to share pictures after my dd completes Roxaboxen next week.
Oh, but I have! It must have been hidden in a post that you did not read dear Kendall!:lol:

I find fitting all the stuff in a folder to be frustrating sometimes and it doesn't allow my kids room to be terribly creative. I prefer the prong folders because I can hand them cardstock and tell them to glue and then they can do whatever they want outside of the three hole area and it's all good.

Plus, you can fit tons in them and it's all there. Bound and ready to go.

A lot of times we gather things together and then towards the end we attach things and find an order and all that. That way we don't have to keep undoing the prongs and fitting new things in.

These are super for larger studies or regular rows that produce bulk.

[Kendall in GA]

Oh, but I have! It must have been hidden in a post that you did not read dear Kendall!:lol:



Good! I'm happy to know that you've shared this idea in the past....I just missed it...Life happens! :lol:

[Jeni]

Ya know, I saw these in the store the other day with the school supplies and my first thought was, "those would be great for documenting FIAR books" :lol: Great minds think alike? As for gluing mini books and foldables, I figured we could just glue them inside the front and back covers. But we don't do many so that would work for us. If you do alot of things like that it probably wouldn't be a large enough space.

[Sue in MN]

I just knew that I needed more 3 prong folders for something.:roflol:

[Cari]

I like it... and the Staples in this area have them for $.01 -- what a deal!

Cari