Sunday, January 29, 2006

ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS: 5-8th Grades

(last update-July 2007)

NOTEBOOKS
4 Large 3 ring binders:

1. Writing : 3 sections (same notebook for grades 5-8)
Writing Strands, Dictation, Narration

2. Mathematics (same notebook for grades 5-8)
Four years of spiral bound thin math notebooks placed in one large notebook

3. Science (same notebook for grades 6-8)
When student begins Apologia in 7th grade, one thin notebook for each area of science studied is needed. We keep all the notebooks into one large binder
Divisions of thin Apologia notebooks: Vocabulary, On your own, Experiments,, Study Guides ,Tests.

4. Artwork (buy over-sized if necessary)
Artistic Pursuits drawing and painting lessons as well as other artwork goes here within page protectors.

CENTURY BOOK:
Begin in 5th gd. This binder is medium-sized.
It is an actual timeline in a notebook. Each page is divided horizontally into 5 sections. (The top line has 10 divisions.)

Each section is labeled:
-Wars, Conflicts, Politics
-Notable Men & Women
-Religion, Philosophy
-Art and Music
-Discovery, Inventions, Technology

Includes brief summaries, pictures and a map section. Just about every historical event, person, discovery, etc... read about is recorded in here with dates. Use thumbnail pictures from used history textbooks and add personal sketches, stickers, etc…

Recitation Binder
I keep memory work in small individual, sturdy binders because we use them almost daily. It has three tabs, one for each term. Memory work from previous years is kept at the back so that we can review them from time to time on group days.

JOURNALS
Personal Journal: Written in weekly; uncorrected and the purpose is to collect memories and thoughts, prayers.
Bible Journal: Sermon notes, verses and thoughts from Bible readings, prayer requests.
Nature Journal: drawings, notes, flora and fauna lists.
Writing/Poetry Journal: Rough drafts, poetry, songs, story ideas collected here (They will most likely want to have a poetry journal as well)
Commonplace bk: It is a copywork journal that the student keeps by her side while reading any literature. She records passages she likes, poetry, quotes, Shakespeare, etc… 5th and 6th graders are given specific copywork passages to record from literature as well, but older students are allowed to make their own choices.

3 comments:

  1. Hello,
    I have recently discovered your blog and am reading through some of your old posts. I am finding so much helpful info and inspiration on your blog - thank you!

    My question: I am beginning to use Ambleside with a middle-schooler. I am wondering what writing you require for history, other than maintaining a timeline (century book) which you mention on this post. It is such joy to read "real" books instead of a textbook, and I don't want to ruin that joy by following every rich reading assignment with a writing requirement, but at the same time, I feel that my ds does need to write about what he is reading (a written narration I suppose), in order to really digest it. I am searching for a balance, specifically for history - what kinds of writing assignments would be appropriate for his age - what type of writing about history would help him to better understand and digest the flow of events, without making writing about history a burden which will dampen his enthusiasm to read about it?

    Thank you!
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sue,
    If you look in the sidebar categories you will find NARRATION/COMPOSITION. I suggest you click on it and scroll down a ways until you come to a few posts that address Creative Narrations. I think (hope) that it will may give you some creative narration ideas for your dear son.

    hth,
    lindafay

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you!

    Sue

    ReplyDelete