Yes, I am. For years I have seen all the wonderful lapbooking do-dads that homeschoolers have been making and feeling somewhat jealous, somewhat left out. I'm not a crafty person by nature (read not at all) so always felt it wasn't for me. But after seeing it so often, everywhere, by everyone, I started to worry that maybe I was short-changing my kids. Obviously we were missing some fantastic learning opportunity. Right?
So, feeling like I could really help them learn on a whole new level I spent a few days printing out all sorts of little booklets and flap things and foldy stuffs for our science and geography studies. I was ready to face the next few weeks as a serious lapbooker and we would LEARN.
Well, one of my sons hated it and let me know it in no uncertain terms. Another son cheerfully cut and colored and glued and couldn't tell me anything about what he was doing. The other son just skipped off to play with his younger brother. I kept at it. I had papers already printed out, darn it, and we were going to use them.
So forward we moved. Except on the days when something happened and we didn't finish gluing or cutting. Or just plain didn't get started because someone was crying or needed help in the bathroom or was starving or whatever little crisis happens a million times a day. And those cute little thingamabobs started piling up, and falling off the shelves.
The solution, a marathon lapbook day. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. I was no longer the favorite mom. I looked about me, surveying the stands of things to be added to the lapbooks, the folders of papers yet to cut and my unhappy children.
And thus ended my career as a lapbooker.
There, I've said it. I don't lapbook. Go ahead and disown you if you must. But truth be told, I am just not that kind of person. More power to those of you who are and I truly admire the lovely pictures on the internet of those fantastic lapbooks. But it's not me. When I asked my boys about it they replied, "We just want to read and do experiments." Amen.
You are too funny! I haven't even heard of lap booking until you, so don't worry not every one knows about that them.
ReplyDeleteYour lapbooking journey sounds a lot like mine. I thought they'd be a great way of learning and thought some of my children could do some on their own, but, no, it was not to be. Some groaned and moaned, some sat for a while and did them, but it didn't take too long for me to realise this wasn't going to work. We were successful, however, in making one lapbook on poetry which they still get out and look at and show visitors, so I guess it was worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what lap booking is. I purchased Apologia General science with the lap book. My daughter and I decided to pass on making the booklets. She will use them for review.
ReplyDeleteI have a question regarding your review of Apologia lesson plans. Can you email me please. romec123@att.net thank you.